Emeka Egbuka Has Questions to Answer in 2024

Despite projections regarding a first to second-round pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka decided to remain a Buckeye and play his senior season.

With the no. 4 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft Marvin Harrison Jr. out of the way, Egbuka is in line to become Ohio State’s top pass catcher for the 2024 season.

He is listed among the top receivers in the 2025 NFL Draft with talented names like Luther Burden III and Tetairoa McMillan, but does he live up to the hype?

Why is he being graded so high?

The answer is simple. Egbuka is Mr. Fundamental. He’s fast, has strong hands, is a good route runner, and has a high football IQ. Egbuka lives out of the slot and can get open against both man and zone.

Egbuka may not be overtly dominant or “game-breaking” like other top receivers (his longest catch in 2023 was only 28 yards against Youngstown State), but his production can not be understated. Simply put, he’s the guy to go to when you need those crucial yards on a conversion. A quarterback can count on him to get open whether that’s breaking off his man or finding a soft spot in coverage.

Why not draft him?

The answer to this question involves his injury concerns and it will be revealed in the 2024 college season. Egbuka missed three games in the 2023 season due to an ankle injury. Upon return, he averaged just 42.4 receiving yards in his final five games, compared to 60.6 in five games to begin the season. With a bigger role and an offseason to recover, monitoring Egbuka’s durability will be important in 2024.

Another element of his game that could be questioned is his success as a team’s top option. Egbuka can consistently get open in the short to intermediate game, but if he draws more attention, can he still produce without the ability to win deep? This is an area to be revisited following the end of the 2024 college season.

Jaccoma’s Bottom Line

Can he help an NFL team win? – Yes.

Egbuka shows the capabilities of being a reliable slot receiver who has strong hands and versatility that can move the meter. Egbuka has all the makings of a possible high-end No. 2 (Z-receiver) that line up off the line of scrimmage to the tight-end side pre-snap. This could cause headaches for opposing defenses- especially if paired with another of the league’s top options.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

#2 Emeka Egbuka 6-foot-1, 205 pounds

Philip Jaccoma Jr.’s 2024 Summer Grade: First-Round

Projected by 80.9% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of August 21, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Game film reviewed (2023): Indiana, Youngstown State, Western Kentucky, Notre Dame, Maryland, Rutgers, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Michigan

Elite 4.3 speed. Very reliable hands. Explosive, establishes route leverage often. Creates separation easily against man. “Stop-start” ability in spades. Often plays out of the slot. Excels short to intermediate. Need to see him win deep more consistently- his speed could help with this. Has a knack for finding the soft spots in coverage. Fights for extra yards. Not the easiest to tackle. Speed allows for run diversity, as well. Very clear understanding of the game. Reads defenses well. High character. Missed three games in 2023 with an ankle injury.

What to watch for during the 2024 college season

1. What does his production look like as a team’s top target?
2. Can he make BIG plays? (30+ yards)
3. Can he stay healthy with a full workload/recover from last season?

Philip Jaccoma Jr. is a rising junior at Rutgers University, pursuing a major in Journalism and Media Studies and a minor in Sports Management. As well as being an aspiring writer and draft analyst for FirstRoundMock.com, he is a sports writer for his school’s student newspaper, The Daily Targum, and a sports broadcaster and producer for WRSU-FM, Rutgers radio. To view more of Philip’s work, follow @PJaccoma on X.