USC football is sending a strong contingent to the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, with seven Trojans earning invites among the 319 prospects heading to Indianapolis later this month. The group includes wide receivers Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane, safeties Kamari Ramsey and Bishop Fitzgerald, linebacker Eric Gentry, tight end Lake McRee, and defensive end Anthony Lucas. The Combine, set for February 23 through March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium, will serve as a major showcase for this talented crop of USC standouts as they look to elevate their draft stock.
Makai Lemon: WR1 Potential
Headlining the list is wide receiver Makai Lemon, who enters the draft process with a first-round grade and legitimate buzz as a potential WR1 in this class. Lemon’s junior campaign was nothing short of electric.
He racked up 79 catches for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns-leading the Big Ten in all three categories by the end of the regular season. Add in a rushing score and even a touchdown pass against Oregon, and Lemon finished with 14 total touchdowns, the most of any wide receiver in the conference.
What sets Lemon apart isn’t just the numbers-it’s how he got them. He consistently created separation, showed elite body control, and proved he could win at all three levels of the field.
His reliability in contested situations and ability to make defenders miss in space made him a nightmare for opposing secondaries. For his efforts, Lemon earned first-team All-American honors from multiple outlets, including the Associated Press, Walter Camp, and Pro Football Focus, and he took home the prestigious Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver-just the second Trojan ever to do so after Marqise Lee.
Lemon is widely projected as one of the top three receivers in this year’s class and could be the first off the board. If he goes in the first round, he’d be the first USC wideout to do so since Jordan Addison in 2023.
Ja’Kobi Lane: Big Frame, Bigger Upside
Ja’Kobi Lane brings a different kind of intrigue to the Combine. At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Lane offers a big-bodied target with an impressive catch radius and strong hands. Despite dealing with an upper-body injury that sidelined him for a game and limited him in others, Lane still posted career highs with 49 receptions for 745 yards and four touchdowns in 2025.
Lane’s breakout came in 2024, when he led the conference with 12 touchdown grabs. Over his USC career, he totaled 99 catches for 1,336 yards and 18 scores in 30 games. With his size, body control, and red-zone prowess, Lane is a strong Day 2 candidate with the tools to develop into a reliable NFL target.
Kamari Ramsey: Versatile and Physical
Kamari Ramsey is another Trojan drawing serious attention. The third-year sophomore has shown versatility throughout his college career, playing both traditional safety and nickel roles.
In 2024, he started 11 games and filled the stat sheet: 60 tackles, five pass breakups, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception. He followed that up in 2025 by stepping in at nickel due to injuries, adding 27 tackles and two more breakups across nine starts.
Ramsey’s physicality and awareness in both run support and coverage make him a valuable chess piece for NFL defenses. He’s projected as a second or third-round pick, and a strong Combine performance could solidify his stock.
Bishop Fitzgerald: Ball Hawk with Range
Bishop Fitzgerald, a transfer from NC State, made an immediate impact in his lone season with USC. The veteran safety tallied 51 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a sack, but it was his ball-hawking ability that really stood out. Fitzgerald tied for the conference lead with five interceptions-ranking third nationally-before a knee injury in the win over Iowa cut his season short.
Despite missing the final two games, Fitzgerald earned consensus All-American honors, a testament to his range, instincts, and ability to flip the field. NFL teams looking for a playmaker on the back end will be watching him closely in Indianapolis.
Lake McRee: Rising Stock at Tight End
One of the more intriguing risers in this draft class is tight end Lake McRee. After four seasons of steady production, McRee put together his best year in 2025 with 30 receptions for 450 yards and four touchdowns-career highs across the board. He finished as USC’s third-leading receiver and earned second-team All-Big Ten recognition.
McRee’s versatility as both a pass-catcher and blocker makes him a valuable asset in today’s NFL. He ended his Trojan career with 97 receptions, 1,154 yards, and seven touchdowns in 51 games. ESPN’s Mel Kiper has McRee slotted as the No. 6 tight end on his Big Board, and a strong Combine showing could push him into Day 2 conversation.
Eric Gentry: Unique Frame, Disruptive Game
At 6-foot-6, Eric Gentry doesn’t fit the mold of a traditional linebacker-but that’s part of what makes him so intriguing. Gentry brings length, athleticism, and a relentless motor to the second level. In 2025, he posted 76 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks, and a team-best five forced fumbles.
Gentry’s frame allows him to disrupt passing lanes and cover ground in a hurry, while his physicality makes him a force against the run. He’s one of the more unique defensive prospects in this class, and teams will be eager to see how he tests in drills.
Anthony Lucas: Former Five-Star with Untapped Potential
Defensive end Anthony Lucas rounds out the group. A former five-star recruit, Lucas has the physical tools to be a problem off the edge. While his college production didn’t always match the hype, the Combine will be a key opportunity for him to showcase his explosiveness, bend, and overall upside.
USC’s presence at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine is a testament to the program’s ability to develop talent across all phases of the game. With a mix of high-end prospects like Lemon and rising names like McRee and Ramsey, the Trojans are poised to make noise in this year’s draft class. For NFL teams, the Combine will offer a closer look at just how deep this USC group really is.