Emeka Egbuka, WR Ohio State: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Egbuka was a five-star recruit from Steilacoom High School in Steilacoom, Wash. in the class of 2021
Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka is often overshadowed by teammate Marvin Harrison Jr., but Egbuka is a first round-caliber wide receiver in the 2024 NFL Draft class. Egbuka is one of four wide receivers I have given first round evaluations.
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Emeka Egbuka, WR Ohio State: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Junior slot receiver from Steilacoom, Wash.
Background: Egbuka was a five-star recruit from Steilacoom High School in Steilacoom, Wash. in the class of 2021. He was the No. 10 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 11 for Rivals, and No. 15 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 30th in the nation with an 87 grade out of 100 (four-star). Egbuka was the 2019 Washington Gatorade Player of the Year when he made 83 receptions for 1,607 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also returned three punts for touchdowns. On defense, Egbuka contributed 36 tackles and eight interceptions, including two pick-sixes. He led Steilacoom to the 2A state championship game, where he set a title-game record with 18 receptions for 163 yards and three touchdowns. Egbuka made 72 receptions for 1,492 yards and 23 touchdowns as a sophomore to accompany two punt return touchdowns, 29 tackles, and eight interceptions. He caught 44 passes for 808 yards and 13 touchdowns as a freshman. Egbuka didn’t play as a senior because Washington moved its football season to the spring. He also played baseball in high school. Egbuka ran a 4.42 40-yard dash and a 4.19 20-yard shuttle in 2019. He also jumped 35.10 inches in the vertical.
Injuries & Off-Field: Missed 2023 spring practices recovering from surgeries to address injuries from 2022
Awards: 2021 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten (Special Teams), 2021 Freshman All-American (PFF), 2022 Second Team All-Big Ten
Pros: Special teams experience on the kick return, kick coverage, punt return, and punt coverage units, returned kicks in 2021 and punts in 2022, experience in the slot and out wide, good burst off the line, acceleration and burst pop, speed to overtake corners in off-man, straight line speed to stack DBs, tempo and hesitation moves to lull DBs before blowing past them, manipulates defenders with effective shoulder and head fakes, out-leverages defenders in zone, quick and nimble feet, maintains speed into and out of breaks, shows some twitch at the top of the stem to generate separation, natural separation with a combination of route running, speed, and twitch, high points the ball and makes hands catches outside his frame, comfortable making sideline grabs, willing blocker
Cons: Five drops in 2022, speed is good but not top tier, room to sharpen routes, put in motion and schemed free releases, contact disrupts his route, concerns versus press coverage, ability to play through mid-route contact is in question, takes too long to stop momentum and flip on comeback routes, more limited in options when working in compressed red zone, some body catches, not twitchy or creative after the catch, limited production on wide receiver screens, struggles to generate YAC in tight spaces, didn’t look dynamic on the end around opportunities he got, won’t break many tackles with power, blocking strength, angles to blocks
Overview: Egbuka has special teams experience on the kick return, kick coverage, punt return, and punt coverage units. He returned kicks in 2021 and punts in 2022. Egbuka lines up in the slot and out wide for Ohio State. He displays good burst off the line, and his acceleration and burst pop on tape. The junior’s speed allows him to overtake corners in off-man and stack defensive backs vertically. He uses hesitation moves and mixes tempo to lull defensive backs to sleep before exploding past them. Egbuka manipulates defenders with effective shoulder and head fakes. He out-leverages defenders in zone coverage to create throwing lanes. Egbuka moves with quick and nimble feet that allow him to maintain speed into and out of breaks. He has some twitch at the top of the stem to generate separation. Egbuka is a natural separator who wins with a combination of route running, speed, and twitch. The All-Big Ten selection high points the ball and makes hands catches outside his frame. He is comfortable making toe-dragging grabs along the sideline and is a willing blocker. Egbuka’s speed is good but not top tier. The Washington native benefits from going in motion and accessing free releases in Ohio State’s scheme. This allows him to avoid contact and press coverage, which usually disrupt and stunt his route. His ability to play through mid-route contact is in question. There’s room for Egbuka to sharpen his routes. He takes longer than he should to stop his momentum, snap off the top of the stem, and get his body around on comeback routes. Because of his build and skill set, Egbuka’s go-to options become much more limited in compressed fields, like the red zone. He dropped five passes in 2022 and sometimes defaults to body catching. Egbuka isn’t twitchy or creative after the catch. He struggled to produce on the wide receiver screens Ohio State sent his way. The former five-star recruit doesn’t break many tackles or generate significant yards after the catch. His blocking strength is subpar, and he takes poor angles to blocks.
Overall, Egbuka is a high-floor receiving threat who uses his athletic gifts to generate consistent separation at all levels of the field. He projects best as a slot receiver at the next level because of his past struggles against press coverage and vertical presence when allowed free releases.
Role & Scheme Fit: Slot receiver in a spread offense
Round Projection: First Round
Size: 6'1", 206 lbs. (Unofficial)
Submitted: 08-27-23