Emeka Egbuka Scouting Report

Emeka Egbuka, WR

Measurables:

Height: 6’1

Weight: 202 lbs

Classification: Senior

School: Ohio State

Testing Numbers:

Arm: 31 1/2”

Hand: 9 5/8”

40: N/A

Broad: N/A

Vert: N/A

Prospect Background

“Your last name is Ebuka and that means something! You don’t just brush it off.”

These were the words Henry Egbuka told his son as a child. Henry, who migrated from Nigeria at the age of 20 has always been the blueprint for the younger Egbuka.

“I’d say my dad was very instrumental in my role growing up,” Emeka said. “He’s definitely laid the groundwork for what it looks like for me to be a man, and (he’s) someone I can strive to be like every day because of his high integrity, his high character, his high work ethic, that just comes with his morals and ethic coming from Nigeria. Excellence is the standard.”

His last name isn’t the only one that holds meaning, however. Emeka, in its own right, means God has done many great things. Which is a perfect representation of a young man whose faith is at the forefront of everything he does.

Emeka Egbuka is a young man of many talents. Those same talents have been on display since Egbuka was a child. At just eight years old, he won Major League Baseball’s Pitch, Hit & Run competition for his age group. Here, he was also recognized as the best 8-year-old baseball player in the county.

Egbuka’s highly touted baseball career extended through high school until he was unable to play his final two seasons due to COVID and early enrollment.

Egbuka arrived at Steilacoom High School already widely known for his athletic profile. Through his three seasons as a Sentinel, Egbuka became a two-time 2A South Puget Sound League Mountain division MVP. He also helped lead Steilacoom to the 2A state championship football game in 2019, where he set a title-game record with 18 receptions for 163 yards and three touchdowns.

After concluding his prep career with 199 receptions for nearly 4,000 yards and 61 touchdowns, Egbuka was named the 2019 Max Prep & Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Washington. Egbuka committed to Ohio State as a five-star recruit, bursting onto the scene as a sophomore en route to becoming the most accomplished receiver in Ohio State history. Egbuka would finish as the program’s all-time leader in yards and receptions.

Stats:

Freshman:

Receptions: 9
Targets: 10
Yards: 191
TDs: 0

Sophomore:

Receptions: 74
Targets: 106
Yards: 1151
TDs: 10

Junior:

Receptions: 41
Targets: 60
Yards: 514
TDs: 4

Senior:

Receptions: 81
Targets: 106
Yards: 1011
TDs: 10

Alignment/Number of Snaps

Slot:

2021: 68
2022: 276
2023: 192
2024: 343

Outside:

2021: 54
2022: 122
2023: 71
2024: 70

Prospect Overview:

Emeka Egbuka has all the tools to become a dependable chain mover at the next level. The former five-star prospect has worn a ton of hats in the Buckeye offense. He’s presented himself to be a bit of a security blanket for quarterbacks. Egbuka finished his time in Columbus as the most accomplished receiver in Buckeye history which is astonishing given the boatload of talent he has had the opportunity to play next to at the receiver position.

Egbuka offers some three-level threat capabilities. In the short area, Egbuka showcases himself as quite the YAC threat. I often refer to him as a smooth criminal — despite not being quite the ‘mover or shaker,’ he’s really fluid with the ball in his hands and seems to find a crease.

In the intermediate area, Egbuka isn’t afraid to work the middle of the field or take on contact to haul in the football. Egbuka is ‘quicker’ more than he is fast. He isn’t really the type to run past you. Yet he’s shown flashes of the ability to win down the field with nuance and manipulation.

It’s the little things that make you appreciate Egbuka as a route runner. He has a great understanding of leverage and how to utilize it against the defensive back to create separation. He possesses a quality feel for coverages, what defenders are being asked, and where to attack it. Egbuka has shown the ability to be really good with spacing and using clear outs and picks how they are meant to be utlized.

The model of consistency, he possesses a pair of reliable hands and great hand-eye coordination, often looking the football into its destination. This is more than likely due to his days as a Center Fielder in high school. Despite a limited catch radius, Egbuka has proven to have the ability to make difficult catches in traffic with great body control. Though he has had the occasional focus drop, it isn’t a significant cost for concern.

Egbuka has showcased valuable ability as a blocker both along the perimeter and on the move. He often finds work even in condensed formations against front seven defenders. This usage has led to big plays for the Buckeyes both on the ground and through the air — he’s also shown an ability to disguise his job which often allows him to leak out unaccounted for (see Indiana ‘24).

Egbuka seemed to have a future as an outside receiver during his time in Columbus, but he’s spent the majority of his time in the slot since taking over the role following an injury to Jaxon Smith-Njigba in 2022.

From a ceiling/floor perspective, Egbuka may be the safest prospect at the WR position. Egbuka projects as a secondary pass-catching option on a team, with the ability to dominate the short and intermediate area as a reliable option on ‘money downs’.