First-round pick Emeka Egbuka arrived in Tampa at the AdventHealth Training Center on Friday and was embraced by loud cheers from staff, coaches and executives. The Ohio State phenom got off the plane and entered his new NFL home - the place at which he hopes to leave a legacy. Egbuka heard his name called in the first round, continuing Ohio State's seemingly endless run of sending high-impact receivers to the NFL.
With that OSU pipeline recently producing the likes of Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxson Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jameson Williams, Egbuka is the next prodigy to hit the turf in the pros. He joins a talented room featuring Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan. Egbuka will add another dimension to that group and aims to be the smartest player on the gridiron. For inspiration and craft enhancement, Egbuka takes a collective approach to refine his skills.
"I mean there is not a specific player that I model my game after," stated Egbuka. "I fell in love with football, yes, but the position of playing wide receiver and the art of it from a very young age. So, I was always studying every single receiver. I think that if you are watching film of some of the best in the game, you are kind of naïve to think that you cannot learn from everyone. I do not take from one specific person; I try to take from each of their games…I want to be the smartest guy on the field."
Egbuka is a route-running technician who has an innate feel for how to set up defenders with subtle movements at the stem. He was voted a 2024 team captain and joined Harrison Jr. as the only players in Ohio State history with multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons. He is the Buckeyes' all-time leader in catches (205) and is able to adjust mid-air to haul in catches with ease.
Egbuka controls the catch point and is just as effective with constricted space to work in – 15 of his 24 career touchdown catches came in the red zone. He is a willing blocker and possesses an advanced football IQ. He is a savvy receiver who attacks leverage by defenders with strategic footwork and detailed nuances to create separation.
"I believe one strength I have always had that I took a lot of pride in was just ball-tracking and catching the ball," described Egbuka. "I think that there has never been a ball in the air that I felt like was a difficult catch, or that I could not track. I have an extensive baseball background but I think that helped me out a lot, playing centerfield and stuff like that. I think when the ball is in the air, I feel very comfortable with it at all angles."
View pictures of Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 19th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft
Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka plays against Oregon during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State Emeka Egbuka, right, cuts up field on a kick return as Maryland kicker Joseph Petrino tries to make a tackle during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (12) in action during an NCAA college football game between Ohio State and Indiana in Bloomington, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (12) runs during the second half in the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against Utah Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka plays in an NCAA college spring football game Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka plays in an NCAA college spring football game Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka plays against Arkansas State during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) carries the ball for a touchdown in the second half of a NCAA college football game against the Arkansas State on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Emilee Chinn)
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka lines up during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against the Notre Dame, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won 21-10. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka lines up during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against the Notre Dame, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won 21-10. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka, left, celebrates his touchdown against Wisconsin with teammate Dawand Jones during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka runs for a 69-yard touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka reacts after scoring a touchdown against Northwestern during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, in Evanston, Ill. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against Georgia during the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA college football semifinal playoff game, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) runs during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Indiana, Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka plays against Youngstown State during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka lines up during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Ann Arbor, Mich. Michigan won 30-24. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka lines up during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Ann Arbor, Mich. Michigan won 30-24. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka looks to block during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Ann Arbor, Mich. Michigan won 30-24. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
FILE - Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka plays against Youngstown State during an NCAA college football game, Sept. 9, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)
Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka plays against Akron during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) plays against Notre Dame during the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) plays against Notre Dame during the College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
