Ohio State playmaker named as sneaky first-round candidate despite ice-cold stretch
The 2024 college football season hasn't been perfect for several Ohio State playmakers. Hopes of Quinshon Judkins totaling 30 touchdowns, TreVeyon Henderson clearing 1,200 yards, and Emeka Egbuka setting career highs are mostly dead in the water. While the Buckeyes are playing well when it matters most, the individual draft stock of several individuals hasn't […]
The 2024 college football season hasn't been perfect for several Ohio State playmakers. Hopes of Quinshon Judkins totaling 30 touchdowns, TreVeyon Henderson clearing 1,200 yards, and Emeka Egbuka setting career highs are mostly dead in the water. While the Buckeyes are playing well when it matters most, the individual draft stock of several individuals hasn't improved.
Despite that, one of these Buckeyes was named as a potential first-round pick by The 33rd Team. They looked at five wide receivers who could crack Day 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft, and Egbuka was listed. Here's the case for Egbuka that was made.
Production has not come as easily for Emeka Egbuka as expected this season, as the Buckeyes' passing game has cooled off during the last month. However, Egbuka might be the easiest projection in the entire class. He's done everything Ohio State has tasked him with during the last four years, and the scheme is similar to the best NFL offenses.
Egbuka is smoother than explosive, but his 4.4 speed and fluidity make him deceptively dangerous. Though he's mostly played in the slot, Egbuka's play has been as good inside as outside. Regardless of his quarterback, Egbuka's efficiency has remained steady with C.J. Stroud, Kyle McCord, and Will Howard.
This year, Egbuka has been in the slot more than ever, but key areas of growth show he can elevate his game to a bigger role. He's caught a career-high of contested catches with a 61.5 percent rate and an overall catch rate of 74.2 percent. Egbuka also reinforced his value in the red zone, catching eight scores, and is on pace to set a career-high there.
His game looks remarkably similar to Puka Nacua, who has been a monstrously good engine for the Rams when healthy.
This is a well-reasoned and researched take on Egbuka. He's either WR4 or 5 in this class, depending on how teams view Travis Hunter and Isaiah Bond. Considering Bond's speed, I think he'd be favored over Egbuka, but that's a personnel-based decision.
Our staff loves Egbuka, taking him 19th overall in our latest two-round 2025 NFL mock draft. He joined a big class of Buckeyes selected, and we'd be pumped to see him make his way into Round 1.
I think he'll be even better in the NFL than he's been at Ohio State, largely because he's been lost in the shuffle with uneven quarterback play and being surrounded by so many other weapons.
