Dennis Simmons

Biography

Dennis Simmons enters his fifth season at USC as the assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. He has coached some of the collegiate game’s elite receivers and has mentored three Biletnikoff winners. Throughout his career, Simmons has coached 20 NFL Draft picks, including 5 first rounders. In 2025, Simmons was named FootballScoop’s Wide Receivers Coach of the Year. Simmons mentored 2025 Biletnikoff winner Makai Lemon throughout his entire USC career. 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