Makai Lemon and Bishop Fitzgerald named Associated Press First Team All-Americans

LOS ANGELES — USC wide receiver Makai Lemon and safety Bishop Fitzgerald have been named Associated Press First Team All-Americans. Last week, Lemon and Fitzgerald were also named to the Walter Camp All-American First Team, which now puts USC’s First Team All-Americans total to 179.

Additionally, Lemon was named the 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner as well as an On3 First Team All-American, The Athletic First Team All-American, a PFF All-American, and a Pro Football Sports Network Third Team All-American. In addition to earning All-Conference honors by the Big Ten, Lemon was also named to the AP All-Big Ten First Team and the Sports Info Solution All-Big Ten First Team.

On the other hand, Fitzgerald was also named to the PFF All-America Team, the On3 All-America Second Team, and The Athletic All-America Second Team. He was additionally honored as an AP All-Big Ten First Team member.

Lemon has showcased himself as the nation’s best receiver and was 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, Per PFF. The First Team All-American and Biletnikoff winner 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 the most receiving touchdowns (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.

Lemon’s 2025 campaign was one for the books as he scored 11 receiving touchdowns, 2 rushing touchdowns, and threw a passing touchdown in USC’s loss to Oregon. Lemon is the first Big Ten player to catch 2 touchdowns and throw a touchdown in a game since Minnesota’s Eric Decker versus Cal on Sept. 19, 2009.

Fitzgerald was one of the country’s best defenders and finished the regular season leading the Big Ten (and No. 2 nationally) in interceptions. His 5 interceptions are the most by a Trojan since Calen Bullock in 2022, with 3 of them occurring within USC’s red zone.

Even after missing two games due to injury late in the season, the All-American candidate still ranked fourth on USC’s defense with 51 total tackles (34 of them solo stops), including 2.5 for loss of 18 yards (with 1 sack for minus 11 yards) and 3 PBUs. He was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy.

Additionally, Fitzgerald was named the Bronko Nagurski Player of the Week after his performance against Michigan when he hauled in 2 picks (his second game of the season with 2 interceptions) to help USC win 31-13 in one of USC’s biggest victories since moving to the Big Ten.

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