Former Southern California receiver Makai Lemon will be one of the highest-selected receivers of the 2026 NFL Draft after winning the Biletnikoff Award, which is given to college football's top receiver, in 2025.While his ability on the field speaks for itself — 79 receptions for 1,156 yards with 11 touchdowns — he didn't quite help himself off the field at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.NFL DRAFT HUB: Everything to know of the 2026 NFL DraftLemon went viral for the wrong reasons during interview sessions with reporters before the combine, as his demeanor was mocked by the world of sports media. He has since apologized and said he has learned from the ensuing concerns following his interview."It was a learning experience, definitely," he told reporters on Wednesday, April 22, a day before the NFL draft.
"How to carry myself more professionally. I definitely didn't expect it to look like that, but I'll learn from it and be better moving forward."It's unclear if the interview session will have any impact on his draft stock, but he's still expected to be a first-round pick, regardless. Here's a look back at his interview session and what happened:Makai Lemon NFL combine interview, revisitedNothing Lemon said during his NFL Scouting Combine interview with reporters was out of the ordinary.
It was his posture and demeanor that made his session go viral.Lemon answered questions with a stern look on his face, while swaying back and forth at times. The most viral clip of Lemon's interview came when he was asked what NFL receiver he looks up to. Some of his eye contact also grabbed attention."I'd probably say Amon-Ra St.
Brown," Lemon said in the clip, which has over 10 million views on X. "The type of grit he plays with, the way he can have a positive impact on the team without the ball in his hands."USC WR Makai Lemon on who he models his game after and looks up to in the NFL pic.twitter.com/ZozjmE65qj— Bryce DeGroat (@NFL_Convo) February 27, 2026Some have even speculated Lemon was purposely tanking his NFL draft stock, a claim he struck down on April 22.“That’s for them to talk about,” Lemon said on April 22. “I ain’t got nothing.
I can’t really tell them what to say and stuff like that. I know what I did as a person, as a player, and the teams know what’s going on.”Steelers general manager Omar Khan said on April 20 that he was impressed by Lemon in the team's one-one-one interview with the receiver, however.“He was outstanding,” Khan said. “He really was.
We had a chance to meet him in (Indianapolis) and then he was here and spent some quality time with him. It was excellent time spent.”Makai Lemon NFL mock draft projectionLemon is projected as the No. 11 overall pick to the Miami Dolphins in USA TODAY's latest mock draft as the third receiver off the board, behind Ohio State's Carnell Tate and Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What did Makai Lemon say in NFL combine interview? Why USC WR went viral