SPEAKER_02 0:33

Here's your hook, Chris Houston. All right, we're back with a special bonus episode of the Heisman Trophy Podcast. We are talking to USC wide receiver Mikai Lemon, one of the best players in the country, maybe the best receiver. He is a prime candidate for the Bolitnikoff Award this year. Could be USC's second Bolitnikoff joining Marquise Lee back in 2012. We've never had a bonus episode before, so hope you enjoy. Consider it a little Halloween treat.

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Hello has no house.

SPEAKER_02 1:04

USC's Makai Lemon is one of the best receivers in the country, if not the best. He is second nationally with 108.3 receiving yards per game to go with 48 catches through seven games. He also returns punts and kicks, and that helps him rank fifth nationally in all-purpose yards per game at 133 yards per Makai. Welcome to the Heisman Trophy podcast.

SPEAKER_00 1:28

Appreciate you for having me on.

SPEAKER_02 1:30

You are seven games into this season and you've been playing great, but if you go back over the last 15 games back to last year, you've got 94 catches for 1,440 yards. That's really outstanding production. Something happened around halfway through last year where you just caught fire and it hasn't stopped since. So what was it that got you going midway through your sophomore season?

SPEAKER_00 1:54

I feel like it was just me just staying the course. You know, me just uh, you know, keep putting in the work, you know, really not paying attention to too many things, but just, you know, just trying to get better as a whole, um, you know, as a whole player. So I feel like um I've been treading in the right direction with that.

SPEAKER_02 2:10

Was there a specific play that gave you the confidence that you could play at this level?

SPEAKER_00 2:15

I feel like it was not just one specific play, but I feel like just over the course of things, just um, you know, just keep stacking these games and keep stacking these weeks, you know. I feel like that played a big part in that.

SPEAKER_02 2:25

You briefly had a stint as a freshman where you filled in a cornerback. How difficult was it as a freshman to not really have a set position yet?

SPEAKER_00 2:32

Um, it wasn't really too difficult. I feel like the coaches made it smooth, you know, for me. You know, and I feel like um, you know, really just you know, just trying to be the best player I am, you know, doesn't matter what position or where I'm at on the field.

SPEAKER_02 2:45

As your sophomore year started, you didn't get off to a great start. How did you keep your faith in the development process and what what helped you through that period?

SPEAKER_00 2:54

Um I feel like, you know, just keeping my trust in God, you know. Um and I really feel like my family, you know, really just telling me, you know, just to stay the course, you know, um, and just keep uh things going, you know, and just really just never give up and uh really just believe in yourself.

SPEAKER_02 3:10

Let's go back to the beginning. When did you start playing football?

SPEAKER_00 3:14

I started playing football when I was maybe I think four years old, man, when I was knee high. You know, I feel like just fell in love with it ever since then.

SPEAKER_02 3:22

Were you one of those kids who always had a football on his hands walking around?

SPEAKER_00 3:26

Yeah, yeah, definitely. You know, I was always wanting to be outside, you know, playing catch with my aunt aunts and uncles, not really just inside. So I feel like that was, you know, me from since the childhood.

SPEAKER_02 3:36

When did an adult say, Wow, you really have good hands, Makai?

SPEAKER_00 3:41

That's a tough one. I feel like um like when I was younger, you know, just playing cash with my dad, you know, he always knew that I had natural hands and uh had an eye for the ball. So I feel like as I grow older, you know, it just got better.

SPEAKER_02 3:55

I feel like when you have really good hands, you there's like a a lot of pride about it. Like there's a little bit of cockiness if you had really good hands. When did you develop that cockiness that you were just gonna catch the ball if it was in the area?

SPEAKER_00 4:06

Um, yeah, I don't know. I feel like I wouldn't say it's cockiness, I would just say it's just more, you know, just you know, I don't know. I feel like I'm just trusting in myself and um just being, you know, the player I am.

SPEAKER_02 4:20

Yeah. When did you realize that you might have a chance to play more than just high school football?

SPEAKER_00 4:25

Um, I feel like when I got my first offer, you know, I feel like that gave me the you know the confidence knowing that, you know, I got the talent to play at the next level. So I feel like I just just try to get better and um here I am today.

SPEAKER_02 4:37

You originally committed to Lincoln Riley when he was at Oklahoma and then you followed him to USC. His system is obviously friendly to receivers and quarterbacks. What are you at your position explicitly asked to do in this offense?

SPEAKER_00 4:50

Um, you know, in his offense, you know, is obviously, you know, to score touchdowns. So I feel like um, you know, I'm here, you know, to do that. Um, and I feel like the coaches, you know, trust me enough, you know, to do that. So, you know, just backing up their word, you know, just um just do what I gotta do and uh do my job at the best.

SPEAKER_02 5:07

You've got a great blend of skills. You're tough, you got strong hands, you can get yards after the catch, you make the first guy miss, you got sideline awareness, and you're a plus return guy. How much of that skill set comes naturally, like just stuff you were already good at? And how much of it came from just repetitions and experience?

SPEAKER_00 5:24

Yeah, definitely. I feel like a lot of it is God give it talent. You know, I just gotta give him the glory for that. And then I feel like just over the years, you know, my pops, you know, started me, you know, since since a child, you know, all the training and all the hard work that I put in, you know, over the over the years, you know, just paid off.

SPEAKER_02 5:39

You made some of the best catches of the year so far that I've seen. There was a big one against Illinois, of course, but I think the best one was that touchdown against Michigan. Do you remember much about that play? And can you walk me through a little bit?

SPEAKER_00 5:50

Yeah, definitely. I remember like it was like it was yesterday, man. I just had a slot fade. You know, I knew it was man, you know, I just had to win the uh win the rep. You know, we practiced it um all week, you know, during the week. So I already knew where the ball's gonna be at. And uh Jaden made a perfect play, so I just had to go over there and uh, you know, just make the catch.

SPEAKER_02 6:09

What what what are you thinking about when the ball's in the air? Or are you thinking at all, or was it all just reaction?

SPEAKER_00 6:16

Um, yeah, a lot of it is just reaction, you know. A lot of a lot of reps put in during the week, so you know when I'm in the game, you know, I'm not thinking too much about it. You know, it's just most natural.

SPEAKER_02 6:27

Okay, let's do a few rapid fire questions here. What's your favorite part about playing receiver?

SPEAKER_00 6:33

Scoring touchdowns.

SPEAKER_02 6:34

Who's your favorite USC receiver from the past?

SPEAKER_00 6:38

Uh Marquis Lee.

SPEAKER_02 6:39

I I hear you talk to Marquis Lee a bit, right?

SPEAKER_00 6:42

Yeah, definitely. You know, I'd be seeing him on campus. You know, I actually had a class with him, so you know, I'm I was able to, you know, get, you know, key, you know, advice from him. So, you know, I'm just blessed to, you know, be around uh him for sure.

SPEAKER_02 6:54

You guys are kind of similar in a way. You you both came in uh you could have played either uh receiver or defensive back, you know. You he he kind of came in the same way. What is what did he do as a receiver that made you want to emulate him?

SPEAKER_00 7:07

I feel like he was just great, you know, um all around receiver. I feel like I just don't want to limit myself to just one thing, and I feel like that stood out with him, you know, just really just trying to make a play every time the ball comes his way. You know, it doesn't matter if it's a a deep ball, you know, or a short route, you know, just try to make the best out of you know every opportunity.

SPEAKER_02 7:26

What do you like better? Returning punts or returning kicks?

SPEAKER_00 7:30

I think punts for sure.

SPEAKER_02 7:33

What type of defenders present you with the biggest challenge?

SPEAKER_00 7:37

I'll say like a maybe like a long defender. You know, he has a long reach, he can get his arms on you. I feel like um that's that's the that's what my answer is.

SPEAKER_02 7:46

Who's been like the toughest uh defender you've got up against this year so far? Like who's giving you the most trouble?

SPEAKER_00 7:53

That's a tough one. Um I'd probably say this past week in Notre Dame, Moore, number 15, he's a great player, you know, great instincts, so definitely um we'll say him.

SPEAKER_02 8:04

What did he do differently that some other guys didn't do or couldn't do?

SPEAKER_00 8:08

I feel like what I just said, you know, his length. Yeah, you know, he has long arms, you know, he's a tall guy, so I feel like he used that to his advantage, and um, I feel like he's a great player.

SPEAKER_02 8:17

Do you have any superstitions on or off the field?

SPEAKER_00 8:24

Um I don't know. I don't think so. I don't think I got too many superstitions.

SPEAKER_02 8:28

Alright. What do you wish fans understood about playing college football?

SPEAKER_00 8:34

That we just don't show up on Saturdays and hoop. You know, it's a lot that goes into, you know, Saturdays, a lot of hard work, you know, a lot of dedication into this. So, you know, I feel like um that's the things that they don't see.

SPEAKER_02 8:46

What's a bad habit you're trying to get rid of?

SPEAKER_00 8:52

Bad habit, probably, you know, eating too much candy. I gotta switch through, and I gotta cut down on that. Halloween Halloween coming up, you gotta be careful. 100%.

SPEAKER_02 9:02

What's the best part of your golf game? And who's better at golf? You or Jacoby Lane?

SPEAKER_00 9:07

I'll probably say my putting. I feel like my putting is my strong game, and I feel like you know, Kobe, you know, he's a better all-around, you know, golfer, you know, from the from the driver to the chipping, and I I get my techniques from him.

SPEAKER_02 9:22

Jaden Mayaba was on the show earlier in the season. He said his special talent that no one knows about is that he can juggle. So, what's your hidden talent?

SPEAKER_00 9:32

Hidden talent? Um, I don't think I got too many hidden talents. Um maybe I say skateboarder. Not too many people know that I skateboard. So I heard a rumor about that that you skateboarded.

SPEAKER_02 9:47

Where did you used to go skateboard?

SPEAKER_00 9:49

Um, maybe just around the neighborhood. You know, I I picked it up from my uncle when I was like, you know, like a very young kid. So I feel like it always stuck to me, and I feel like that's one thing that I kind of like doing.

SPEAKER_02 10:00

Kind of helps with body control too, right? It helps you when you're going up as a receiver, just contorting your body, that kind of thing.

SPEAKER_00 10:07

Yeah, definitely. And a lot of balance for sure. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:22

Well, Makai Lemon, thanks for coming on the Heisman Trophy Podcast. Good luck this weekend. Good luck to you, and good luck to the Trojans the rest of the year.

SPEAKER_00 10:31

I appreciate you for having me on. I appreciate everything you have going on. You too, Mikai.

SPEAKER_02 10:40

Alright, thanks for tuning in to our bonus episode, our special Halloween episode with Makai Lemon. USB plays Nebraska this weekend. Should be a good one. If you enjoy our content, please show us some love. Give us a like, a subscription, a review, a comment, tell your family, tell your friends. We truly appreciate it. And if you want to see a video of this interview, go over to YouTube or to TikTok. Next week, Blake Horvat, Navy quarterback, joins the show. Have a great weekend, everybody! The Hydro Trophy Podcast streams every Wednesday during the college football season and is hosted, produced, edited, and engineered by Chris Easton. Pod is available on all streaming networks, including Spotify and Apple Music, and features video interviews and bonus content on YouTube and TikTok. We also have a Reddit community. Special shout out to Isaac Loencron and big thanks to Rob Whelan, Tim Henning, and the Heisen Trust for their support. Reach out to us via email at pod at hizen.com for feedback and commentary.