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USC receiver Makai Lemon, safety Bishop Fitzgerald named On3 All-Americans

Erik-McKinneyby: Erik McKinney3 hours agoErikTMcKinney

The postseason accolades for USC Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon and safety Bishop Fitzgerald continue to roll in as both were named to the 2025 On3 College Football All-America Team on Wednesday.

Lemon was a First-Team selection and On3’s Chris Low wrote of the standout junior:

“Lemon went from a really good receiver in 2024 to an elite receiver this season. The 5-11, 195-pound junior led all Power 4 players with 1,156 receiving yards, including 718 yards after the catch. He led the Big Ten with 64 receptions and nine touchdowns in nine league games and had just two dropped passes in 108 targets.”

Lemon had five 100-yard receiving games for USC this season and posted 150-yard performances over ranked opponents in Illinois and Iowa. He was responsible for touchdowns in three different ways, catching 11, rushing for two and throwing for one. He’s one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s best wide receiver. Lemon is seen as a consensus first round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft though he has yet to officially announce that he will forgo his final season of eligibility with the Trojans.

Fitzgerald was named a Second-Team selection by Low.

The 5-foot-11, 205-pound safety played in nine and a half games for USC this season before his season ended with an injury against Iowa. He finished the year with 51 tackles, five interceptions, three pass deflections and a sack. He returned his first interception of the season for a 39-yard score in the opener against Missouri State. He had two interceptions against Purdue and two more (plus the sack) against Michigan. He was named both the Bronko Nagurski and Lott IMPACT player of the week for his performances against the Wolverines.

This was Fitzgerald’s first and only year with the Trojans after coming to USC from North Carolina State via the transfer portal. Fitzgerald immediately grabbed a starting spot in the secondary and formed a solid trio alongside Christian Pierce and Kamari Ramsey.

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Garry Paskwietz (1966-2019)

Garry Paskwietz was a pioneer in bringing team-specific sports coverage to the internet. He founded WeAreSC in 1998 and was an Emmy winner for his work with Fox Sports West. Always generous with his time, knowledge, and compassion, he touched the lives of countless USC and high school football fans.

Garry Paskwietz