Emeka Egbuka took the podium at Big Ten Media Days Tuesday with a polite nod and a smile as he began to field questions from a large group of reporters at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
It’s almost one week before Ohio State begins practice for one of the most anticipated seasons in Columbus in recent memory, but the Buckeyes’ talented pass catcher has been a busy man this offseason.
Egbuka spent plenty of time hanging out with Ohio State’s quarterbacks, both running routes for them and challenging them on the golf course.
Speaking of his golf game, Egbuka got plenty of that in with many of his teammates, as the 6-foot-1, 205-pound wideout claims he’s the best golfer on the team with the lowest handicap (6.6). He’s also spent some time playing as Ohio State and himself in the new college football video game, EA Sports College Football 25.
But don’t worry, he’s focused plenty on improving himself for this season, too.
“Playing bigger, stronger, faster and getting my body healthy from the little hiccups I had last year,” Egbuka said of what he’s been focused on this offseason. “Just being someone who can be explosive, go up and make those 50-50 plays, turn those hitches into touchdowns and a stout blocker on the perimeter.”
Walking into Lucas Oil Stadium this year felt much different than in previous seasons, mainly due to the Big Ten logo being embroidered on four new uniforms for the 2024 season: Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA. Realignment has caused some angst for both fans and players alike, but Egbuka relishes the opportunity to play on a big stage against Oregon in the Pacific Northwest on Oct. 12 at Autzen Stadium. When he first heard of the matchup for 2025, Egbuka, who hails from Steilacoom, Washington, pondered how he was going to secure tickets for his family for that game.
“Like, that’s going to be crazy. I don’t know how I’m going to come up with those,” Egbuka said. “Being able to play in the Pacific Northwest is a dream come true of mine.”
Egbuka, who was one of 12 players to earn preseason honors from the Big Ten Tuesday, is universally considered one of the best wide receivers in college football nationally. He broke out on the scene in the 2022 season, where he recorded 74 receptions for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns.
“Emeka can do so many things,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said Tuesday. “Whether it’s on punt, punt return, he can take a handoff, he can catch a bubble, he can block, he can run a deep route, there’s not much Emeka can’t do … When I think of Emeka, I think about someone who’s strong. Strong as a player, strong mentally and strong in his faith. He’s somebody that’s a warrior and somebody we’re going to count on this year in big spots.”
But between a midseason ankle injury in 2023 that forced Egbuka to miss some time last year and his new freshman phenom teammate Jeremiah Smith doubling as a human highlight reel, it does seem Egbuka is even underrated in his own fanbase just a smidge.
None of that bothers Egbuka, who is still projected by many to be a first-round draft pick in the 2025 Draft. Rather, he’s taken it upon himself to be a mentor to Smith, Brandon Inniss and any other wide receiver in the room that wants his guidance. His former teammates did it for him, so he wants to return the favor.
“It’s something I don’t take lightly because I know how much Garrett (Wilson), Chris (Olave) and Jaxon (Smith-Njigba) meant to me,” Egbuka said. “So I’m trying to be that for these guys.”
Speaking of those names, if Egbuka secures 1,042 receiving yards this season, he’ll break Michael Jenkins' career receiving yards record, further cementing his legacy as a Buckeye great.
But Egbuka and his fellow teammates didn’t come back for one final go-around just to chase a record. Egbuka and everyone else on the roster are facing tremendous pressure to both snap the three-game skid against Michigan and make a deep postseason run in 2024. But really, that’s nothing that Egbuka isn’t already used to by now.
“They’re the same expectations people throw out every year,” Egbuka said. “So we try not to let it get to our heads. We try to stay down, keep working and recognize that you’ve got to put everything together when it comes to on the field.”
