Pro Football Focus honors two Trojans after strong performance against Northwestern

Pro Football Focus (PFF) named its Team of the Week for Week 11 of the regular season, with two USC Trojans earning spots on the list. Wide receiver and defensive back DeCarlos Nicholson were both recognized after playing key roles in USC’s dominant 38–17 victory over Northwestern.

Makai Lemon

Lemon has firmly established himself in the conversation for a first-round draft grade, and this outlet has consistently highlighted his strong case as the top player at his position in next year’s NFL Draft. His performance on Friday once again underscored his versatility and critical importance to this USC team.

He led the Trojans in receiving, hauling in 11 of Maiava’s 24 completions for 161 yards. He opened the scoring with a touchdown reception and later added a rushing touchdown on an end-around play in the second half. His effort earned him a PFF grade of 88.0 which scored as the highest on the Trojans for Week 11.

DeCarlos Nicholson

Nicholson was a major factor in keeping Northwestern out of the end zone during the second half on Friday night, earning an 83.8 PFF grade which ranks as the second-highest on the team for Week 11. He finished tied for third on the team in tackles and led the Trojans in pass breakups, consistently disrupting passing lanes and helping the defense get off the field throughout the second half.

While Nicholson isn’t a complete fix for the secondary’s struggles this season, he remains a clear bright spot and a crucial contributor as USC heads into the final stretch of the regular season.

USC returns to action this week, hosting Iowa at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. PT (3:30 p.m. ET) on Big Ten Network.