'Polarizing' USC Star Tabbed No. 1 NFL Draft Prospect for His Position

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Lorenzo J. Reyna | Last updated Jun 22, 2025 11:35 PM ET

USC failed to produce a first round selection during the April 2025 NFL Draft. Will 2026 become different?

One Trojans star is earning high praise. But also received a "polarizing" label in his pre-draft evaluation.

Wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane surfaces as the top NFL prospect in the Land of Troy before the 2025 season. ESPN draft expert Matt Miller handed him that label.

Surprisingly, Lane lands as the No. 1 wide receiver for the upcoming draft class. That position has emerged as a primary need for multiple teams on night one of the draft -- with multiple teams bolstering the position right away.

What does Miller see in Lane that makes him highly intriguing? The draft analyst wrote this evaluation down.

“I have the 6-4, 195-pound redshirt sophomore ranked higher than everyone and will continue to reside on that island. But he is a polarizing prospect who has many scouts needing to see more," Miller began.

He also looked past the number of touchdowns Lane produced.

"Despite 12 touchdowns last season, Lane had only 528 receiving yards and was held below 50 yards in eight of USC’s 13 games," Miller wrote.

So despite the polarizing production, why is Miller high on the USC Trojan?

"There isn’t a true WR1 in this class yet, so, with a bit more consistency, Lane has the opportunity to rise and be the first receiver off the board," Miller said.

Lane has every opportunity to ascend. He gets Jayden Maiava to throw to him for an entire regular season. Lane will elevate his name on draft boards if he improves his 2024 totals.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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