USC’s Lemon talks relationship with St. Brown
Makai Lemon joins PFT Live to discuss his relationship with former Trojan standout Amon-Ra St. Brown, what he needs to improve on at the NFL level and more.
Video Transcript
Pft Live at the Scouting Combine, Indianapolis, Friday, February 27.
Joining us now, a guy whose name is gonna get called pretty early a couple of months from now.
He's the Biletnikoff Award winner for 2025, is the nation's top receiver and a first team All-American, Mekhi Lemon from USC.
Mekhi, welcome.
Appreciate you for having me.
What's up, man?
How you doing?
blessed and grateful to be here.
Yeah, we're glad to have you.
I mean, awesome watching you, really, the last two years.
I mean, incredible, definitely that.
what are you gonna do for the workout?
I'm gonna do the gauntlet and, and the routes- Yeah and then everything else will be at pro day.
You're gonna do at the pro day?
Yes, sir.
Okay.
All right, cool.
When did you realize in your life that you had special skills that would put you at the point where you now are?
I'd probably say going into high school, and then actually realizing it in, in college.
You know, my always p- parents always told me that, you know, I had very, you know, good talent, you know, God-given, abilities.
So to really see that and to progress, you know, at the college level with, you know, with top athletes and, to do what I did, that's when I really realized it.
I, During the year, we did one of your games on NBC, right?
'Cause you're Big Ten, and we do Big Ten.
And I was like, "Man," I mean, "watching him, he's like Amon-Ra St. Brown Jr. over here."
Yeah, I mean, you honestly look like you could be related to him a little bit.
I mean, damn, like you're brothers from another mother.
But at Do you talk to him at all?
I talked to him a few times, for sure.
Yeah?
Yeah.
Yeah.
And what's he, what's he said to you?
You ask him for advice or anything, like that?
Yeah, he's just, you know, telling me encouragement words, you know?
Right.
And I, I, I can't wait to, you know, really, you know, sit down with him and pick his brain about, you know, the next level and, and the things to do.
But, you know, he's always encouraging me, to, to keep what I'm doing and, just to be myself.
Yeah, cool.
What do we do away from football?
When you get a chance to get a break, what do you like to do?
I'm a real chill guy.
I'm laid back.
I don't really do too much, but I do like going to the beach, you know, and, just to relax, you know, see the water.
Yeah.
And, yeah- I feel you there just laid back.
Yeah, just hang for the day.
Yeah.
Right.
I, I'm with you there.
All right, so you do everything You're a little ball of muscle.
You do everything well for the most part, from what I've seen.
But, like, what's one area in your game that you look at, that you go, "My, I can pro- I can improve that a little bit?"
I'd say the biggest thing that stands out to me is just, approaching the game with a more professional mindset.
Huh.
You know, really just trying to, know my opponent- Yeah and know the defense more, so, you know, when I step onto the field, I can already have that advantage.
Yeah, you're gonna, you're gonna see that.
Yeah, that, that's one of the cool things, I think, when you get to the NFL, you're gonna realize, like, you're gonna have a few receivers on your team that are gonna be like, "Hey, look at this, do this-" Mm-hmm. "
when you run the route, think about it like that."
Mm-hmm.
That's what you're gonna learn from Amon-Ra.
Mm-hmm.
That and workout, right?
For sure.
Right, and stuff he does off the field.
100%.
Who's the one guy, Mekhi, during your time in college that you had the hardest time getting open against?
In On my own team or, or like my opponent?
Oh, anywhere, anywhere.
I'd probably say Kamari Ram- Kamari Ramsey, you know, safety from my team.
you know, just the type of a- ability that he has, he's, he's very smart, he's real patient, and I feel like, you know, I had to be on my A-game, you know, every time.
You know, sometimes, you know, guys, you can maybe think, you know, I can just use my speed, but, you know, I had to use a little bit more, you know, going against him.
Kamari's What number did Kamari wear?
I know.
I'm trying to Is he not the, the, the long safety guy that's on your damn, on your damn team, is he?
I'm just trying to remember who he is, too.
Yeah, nah.
Seven?
No.
I'm gonna say it's seven?
Yeah, seven.
Seven.
Number seven.
Yeah, number seven.
Okay, so that was your guy, and so you had to deal with him in practice every day.
Yeah, 100%.
Maybe a, a better player than I am today.
Okay.
Okay.
And one of the benefits of dealing with a guy like that all the time in practice makes the games a little bit easier.
Nah, 100%, for sure.
Who's your team growing up?
You know, the Raiders.
The Raiders?
Yeah.
Okay.
Coming from my pops, you know.
He, he was always a, a Raider fan back when, you know, they was in Oakland.
Yeah.
So, you know, I just grew up liking them, and, yeah.
What about receiver growing up, or who was your kinda idol that you watched growing up playing football?
Growing up, a young, very young kid, I'll say Marquise Lee, and then, when I was getting a little older, I'll say Stefon Diggs.
Okay.
Yeah.
Marquise Lee out of, USC.
Yes, sir.
Yeah, for sure.
Yeah, okay, cool.
For sure.
Those are good ones.
Where will you be during the draft?
You gonna be in Pittsburgh, or you're gonna be somewhere else?
yeah, I haven't really made a choice yet, but, you know, if I do get the invite to Pittsburgh, you know, that would be a huge blessing that I, I, I wouldn't, skip out on.
Yeah, don't skip out on that.
Yeah, for sure.
You know, I, I mean, e- every guy I, I got drafted in the third round- and I'm like, "Man, I wish I got to be a first-rounder," and walk in, put the hat on- Yeah and see the commissioner, and do all that.
They This just in: you're gonna get invited.
I'm just gonna let you know.
All right, you're gonna get invited.
Yeah.
So just get ready for the freaking trip, all right?
I got you.
All right.
All right, man.
All right, well, hey, well, before we let you go- Yeah we've been doing this with everyone.
Look into the camera right there, say hello to anyone in the world you'd like to say hello to.
I'd say my mom and dad, and my family.
You know, I'm here to, you know, to represent the last name well, and I'm just here to give God all the glory.
All right, Mekhi Lemon- Yeah, man on his way to the NFL Draft.
Enjoy the rest of the time here in Indianapolis.
We'll be back with more from PFT-
