Seventeen USC NFL hopefuls gathered at the Allyson Felix Track and Field Stadium to showcase their talents at USC Pro Day on March 12. Family, friends, NFL scouts from all 32 teams, and managers lined the field to observe the Trojans for a final chance to showcase their abilities before the 2026 NFL Draft. Among the NFL scouts, Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead joined to assess USC talent.
In true USC fashion, the Trojans put on a show for NFL teams with brotherhood and family at their core. Former USC Trojan Caleb Williams joined the field to throw passes to Makai Lemon during warm-ups. Williams gave the Trojans hugs and words of encouragement as they prepared for their final opportunity to impress NFL officials.
“Having Caleb here shows the power of the USC family. Hopefully one day, I’ll be the one doing that to some of the younger guys getting ready for their pro day,” DeCarlos Nicholson said. “You have to bring your best when you have someone of that caliber around.”
2025 Biletnikoff Award winner and wide receiver Makai Lemon was a standout for NFL scouts. Lemon recorded a 4.46 in the 40-yard dash and finished his 2025 season with 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. His combination of speed, route-running precision, and playmaking ability made him one of the most intriguing prospects in attendance.
Photo Cred: Orange County Register
“This process has been a blessing. It’s not too many guys who get this opportunity, so I take advantage of every opportunity and don’t take it for granted,” Lemon said. “I’m going in there being myself and not being anybody else.”
Wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane was also a standout for NFL contenders. Lane said working alongside Lemon throughout the NFL Draft process has been a dream come true. They pushed each other to grow while maintaining brotherhood in pursuit of their NFL dreams.
“It’s been nothing but a blessing to have him with me. It’s almost like my brother. To be able to grow as a football player and a man. There have been times where we both could’ve slacked off and not done something,” Lane said. “But being able to have each other – you’re always pulling each other to the next level. Being able to be with him the past three years has been a blessing, and going through this process together has been a dream come true.”
USC’s DeCarlos Nicholson said that the NFL represents an opportunity to show his son that there are endless possibilities in the future. Alongside pursuing a career in sports, Nicholson hopes to instill the value of education in his son. He emphasized that success isn’t limited to football, but is built through discipline, learning, and setting an example every day.
“It keeps me motivated and hungry when you see someone looking up to you. He hangs with Hank [Pepper] a lot, and we were at the park already snapping the ball through his legs,” Nicholson said. “I know he’s watching, so I’m trying to be that example for him – not only on the field but in education as well. I drop him off at school and then head to class myself.”
As he completed his press interview, USC cornerback DJ Harvey‘s family beamed with pride and smiles from the stands. Harvey said the pro day felt sentimental because his family came out to support him. The event represented the last time his team would play together as USC Trojans.
Photo Cred: On3
“One last time out here is great. It’s special to see my family out here in one setting, so I’m taking it all in,” Harvey said. “Sometimes I catch myself staring because it’s the last time we get to play together in college.”
USC offensive lineman J’Onre Reed discussed starting at Hutchinson Community College before playing for Division I programs at Syracuse University and USC. Reed said the NFL represents an opportunity to show younger football players they can start at community college and still achieve their dreams.
“Starting at Syracuse, being the first D1 school I played at coming out of JUCO, gave me a sense of direction. It shaped me, and I hope it inspires others that you can play in community college and still achieve your NFL dreams,” Reed said.
USC Pro Day represented the final opportunity for Trojans to showcase their talents before the official NFL Draft on April 26. No matter the outcome, it is certain that family and brotherhood will carry the Trojans far beyond the NFL. For many, the day marked not just an ending, but the beginning of their next chapter at the professional level.
