Makai Lemon Scouting Report

No one will ever think Lemon is megatron. But he plays his routes through the top, especially along the seam. Makai Lemon knows how to break under leverage creating a window for his passer. Give the kid a quick dig or a shake route and he is instantly dangerous. Exuding vibes of a slightly nimbler version of Emeka Egbuka. His press technique is really not his strong suit, but it is also not a deal breaker. He has a nice jab step but isn’t a natural stack artist or a vertical threat par excellence. Makai’s deepest bag of tricks are his short routes, where he’s a real craftsman. And anyone drafting him has to do so for the option and stick type routes he’ll excel at as well as the double-plus screen targets. He’s as creative and balanced as you’ll see in the NCAA at creating with the ball in his hands. And Lemon has that kind of slot twist finishing his run after the catch, where he ekes out a yard or so more by edging under or around the player who is tackling him. That kind of tough slot play is one of the best tape traits you can see. I wouldn’t classify Lemon as a truly ‘explosive’ athlete, but he’s shifty, strong, and balanced, and he gets to speed as fast as you can.