PRO 2025 Rookie Spotlight: Emeka Egbuka, WR Ohio State
Rookie Spotlight: Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
Height: 6-1
Weight: 205
Hands:
Arm:
2025 Age: 23 – (10/14/02)
NFL Play-Style Comparison: Robert Woods, Jarvis Landry
Draft Grade: 1st Round
Projected 40: 4.54
Breakout Age: 20 (Sophomore)
Offensive Market Share Metrics (Final Season)
Receptions: 25%
Receiving Yards: 24%
Receiving TDs: 29%
High School: Steilacoom HS (Steilacoom, Washington)
As a high school prospect: Class of 2021; 5-star (6.1)
College Attended: Ohio State(4)
Pros
– Great short area burst and acceleration
– Every rep is intentional with Egbuka, one of the better run blockers in the class
– 14 games with 6+ receptions over the last 3 seasons (37% of games)
– Played with Jeremiah Smith, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison, Garrett Wilson, and Chris Olave.
– Graduated in 3 years at Ohio State with a degree in marketing
– 133 first downs on 194 career receptions (69%)
– No. 1 WR in the 2021 Recruiting cycle
Cons
– 79% of reps came in the slot in 2024, this number has grown each season, from 54% as a freshman.
– Limited after the catch, can make a defender miss, but not a tackle breaker
– Tons of routes run at or around the LOS (bubble screens, flats, drags)
Highlight/Film
Scouting Notes:
Emeka Egbuka was nicknamed “Cool Breeze” by his mother as an adolescent, due to his calm nature, and boy does it translate to the field. Egbuka is constantly open as you watch through Ohio State tape, at another school with lesser talent surrounding him we could be looking at a potentially 1,500-yard receiver, however that’s not the place we are in, through his career at Ohio State, Egbuka played with Jeremiah Smith, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison, Garrett Wilson, and Chris Olave. The who’s who of talent at the Wide Receiver position. A ton of his output comes near or around the line of scrimmage, and with a 79% slot rate, it makes sense. According to PFF, 51 of his 93 targets in 2024 came behind the line of scrimmage or within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage (55%). While Egbuka is not going to blaze past you like some dynamo receivers we have watched the last few years (Malik Nabers, Ja’Marr Chase, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba), he’s closer to the Chris Olave, Ladd McConnkey types, one of the better route runners in the short and intermediate areas that you will see. Egbuka translates to the NFL as a pure slot receiver with abilities to compile 100+ targets with his soft hands and the ability to sit down in zone defenses while creating separation at the stem of a route and working back to his quarterback. Despite the lack in dynamism and alpha play style, Egbuka is a pros-pro at the wide receiver position and projects as a confident 1st Round Draft Pick. He’ll likely go in the late-first round of traditional 12 team dynasty rookie drafts early with room for movement depending on landing spot and draft capital.
