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USC’s Makai Lemon Named 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year
December 16, 2025 | Football
LOS ANGELES—USC wide receiver Makai Lemon has been named the 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year. This award is presented annually to the most outstanding Polynesian college football player that epitomizes great ability and integrity.
In 2022, former Trojan defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu was named the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year, and former USC safety Talanoa Hufanga earned this honor in 2020.
Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano also received the recognition during the 2025 season.
Lemon, a First Team All-American and the winner of the 2025 Biletnikoff Award has had a stellar 2025 campaign. Per PFF, Lemon is the highest graded wide receiver in college football holding an overall grade of 90.4 and the nation's top receiving grade of 91.3. He finished the regular season leading the Power Four in receiving yards (1,156) and receiving yards per game (96.3). He also led the Big Ten in receptions per game (6.6), yards after catch (502) and is tied for most receiving TDs (11). Lemon finished the regular season third in the Power Four with 19 receptions of 20+ yards, and he was tied for first nationally with 50 catches for first downs.
In 2025, Lemon scored 11 receiving TDs, 2 rushing TDs and threw a passing TD. Lemon is the first Big Ten player to catch 2 TDs and throw a TD in a game (versus Oregon) since Minnesota's Eric Decker versus Cal on Sept. 19, 2009.
He recorded five 100-yard receiving games this season and seven in his career. He has been in double digits in receptions 3 times in 2025. In his career, he's recorded 137 receptions for 2,008 yards (14.7 avg.) with 14 TDs, and he currently ranks 22nd on USC's career receptions list.
The Polynesian College Football Player of the Year was voted on by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, comprised of Jack "The Throwin' Samoan" Thompson (Chairman, former NFL player and Inaugural Inductee), Coaches Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil, former NFL player and Inaugural Inductee Olin Kreutz, Inaugural Inductee and past NFLPA president Kevin Mawae, former NFL player and Class of 2015 Inductee Ray Schoenke, sportscaster Neil Everett, NFL Network Chief National Reporter Steve Wyche and former NFL Player and Class of 2023 Inductee Manti Te'o.
The formal presentation of the award will be held at the 2026 Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner (Jan. 17, 2026), along with being recognized during the 2026 Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 16, 2026).
In 2022, former Trojan defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu was named the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year, and former USC safety Talanoa Hufanga earned this honor in 2020.
Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano also received the recognition during the 2025 season.
Lemon, a First Team All-American and the winner of the 2025 Biletnikoff Award has had a stellar 2025 campaign. Per PFF, Lemon is the highest graded wide receiver in college football holding an overall grade of 90.4 and the nation's top receiving grade of 91.3. He finished the regular season leading the Power Four in receiving yards (1,156) and receiving yards per game (96.3). He also led the Big Ten in receptions per game (6.6), yards after catch (502) and is tied for most receiving TDs (11). Lemon finished the regular season third in the Power Four with 19 receptions of 20+ yards, and he was tied for first nationally with 50 catches for first downs.
In 2025, Lemon scored 11 receiving TDs, 2 rushing TDs and threw a passing TD. Lemon is the first Big Ten player to catch 2 TDs and throw a TD in a game (versus Oregon) since Minnesota's Eric Decker versus Cal on Sept. 19, 2009.
He recorded five 100-yard receiving games this season and seven in his career. He has been in double digits in receptions 3 times in 2025. In his career, he's recorded 137 receptions for 2,008 yards (14.7 avg.) with 14 TDs, and he currently ranks 22nd on USC's career receptions list.
The Polynesian College Football Player of the Year was voted on by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, comprised of Jack "The Throwin' Samoan" Thompson (Chairman, former NFL player and Inaugural Inductee), Coaches Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil, former NFL player and Inaugural Inductee Olin Kreutz, Inaugural Inductee and past NFLPA president Kevin Mawae, former NFL player and Class of 2015 Inductee Ray Schoenke, sportscaster Neil Everett, NFL Network Chief National Reporter Steve Wyche and former NFL Player and Class of 2023 Inductee Manti Te'o.
The formal presentation of the award will be held at the 2026 Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Celebration Dinner (Jan. 17, 2026), along with being recognized during the 2026 Polynesian Bowl (Jan. 16, 2026).
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