The criticisms are not about his answers to the questions, per se, but about his body language throughout the press conference. Lemon had a tendency to shift around, move side-to-side and keep strong eye contact with reporters. Here's more about Lemon's combine process and how his draft stock could be affected.

MORE: The Sporting News 2025 College Football All-America Team, including Lemon, Pavia, LoveMakai Lemon combine interview video This clip specifically is one of two that has gone viral on social media over a month after the initial press conference. Criticism has come both from his inability to stand still for much of the press conference, as well as a perceived "intensity" in his eye contact and overall body language. It's unclear what the cause is for this, but this shifting while standing can be seen elsewhere.

During USC's Pro Day interview with Lemon and team reporter Keely Eure, Lemon displays this same tendency to shift around often.𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚: USC WR Makai Lemon has gone viral for his NFL combine interview when asked who he models his game after and looks up to in the NFL.Fans are extremely confused by his "demeanor."😭😭😭pic.twitter.com/H86mQ7eAaH— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 27, 2026Lemon was asked about the combine press conference Wednesday. He told PennLive's Nick Farabaugh, "It was a learning experience, definitely, just how to carry myself more professionally. I definitely didn't expect it to look like that, but I'll learn from it."Makai Lemon talked about his viral NFL Combine podium session as a learning experience.“It was a learning experience.

It’s about how to carry myself more professionally. I definitely didn’t expect it to look like that, but I’ll learn from it moving forward.” pic.twitter.com/u1jy563m4s— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) April 22, 2026NFL scouts react to Makai Lemon's combine interviews This performance at the combine in Indianapolis didn't bother several team executives, as reported by Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times.Rams general manager Les Snead told Farmer, "At the combine you're usually getting some version of a personality. A lot of times it's 'This is my interview personality,' and that's not necessarily who they are 365 days a year."Snead attended a workout of 17 USC players, including Lemon.

An anonymous executive took Lemon's press conference from a different angle."We don't want a guy who's phony and coached up," the executive said. "We want a guy to be his authentic self. As long as he's not a jerk, we love it."The larger concern for another scout was Lemon's individual team interview, with former NFL defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko taking to social media.

"I talked to a scout just now who said he didn’t know what Makai Lemon’s motive was behind his combine interviews but whoever advised the kid needs to be fired. 'Absolutely bombed it' word for word." Fehoko said.I talked to a scout just now who said he didn’t know what Makai Lemon’s motive was behind his combine interviews but whoever advised the kid needs to be fired.

“Absolutely bombed it” word for word.— Breiden Fehoko (@BreidenFehoko) March 1, 2026MORE: NFL Draft 2026 dates, start time, pick order and TV channelsMakai Lemon draft projection Lemon appears to be a slam dunk first-round pick for many, believed to go in the middle of the first round.Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer has Lemon at No. 16 to the New York Jets in his latest mock draft. Any team looking to bolster their offensive unit could benefit from someone like Lemon, who could slot in at WR1 for many programs. If anything, it seems that NFL execs may have qualms with Lemon's individual interviews with teams and concerns about executing plays on the gridiron.MORE: Vinnie Iyer's complete, 7-round NFL Mock Draft