Chad Savage

Biography

Chad Savage, one of the nation's top recruiters, enters his second season as USC's tight ends/inside receivers coach. In 2026, Savage added pass game coordinator duties to his title. Savage tutored 2025 Biletnikoff winner Makai Lemon. Lemon was USC’s second-ever recipient of the Biletnikoff Award. Additionally, Lemon was named the 2025 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year. He was also selected a unanimous First Team All-American. He was USC's first unanimous selection since QB Caleb Williams and DT Tuli Tuipulotu were unanimous selections in 2022, also under Riley. Lemon also earned First Team All-Conference honors by the Big Ten. Per PFF, Lemon 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. He 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 tied for most receiving TDs (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. In 2025, Lemon scored 11 receiving TDs, 2 rushing TDs and threw a passing TD. Lemon was the first Big Ten player to catch 2 TDs and throw a TD in a game (versus Oregon) since Minnesota's Eric Decker versus Cal on Sept. 19, 2009. He recorded five 100-yard receiving games in 2025 and seven in his career. H