Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) runs after the catch as Rutgers Scarlet Knights defensive back Christian Izien (0) defends during the first quarter at Ohio Stadium. Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Emeka Egbuka WR Ohio State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Emeka Egbuka WR Ohio State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Slot Receiver | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 12/06/2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.30 seconds (97%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 22.1 DOB: 10/14/2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Slot Receiver | |
| Last Updated: 12/06/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.30 seconds (97%*) | |
| Age: 22.1 DOB: 10/14/2002 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 87.9 / 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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75% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 118.1 | |
| Hands: |
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85% |
| Short Receiving: |
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90% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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95% |
| Deep Threat: |
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90% |
| Blocking: |
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63% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
1st - Mid
Overall Rank:
#23
Position rank:
#5
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| College Games: 42 College Snaps: 1783 | ||
ESPN RATING: 87/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 99/100
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RIVALS RATING: 6.1 (100%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Adonai Mitchell - Texas |
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82% |
| Ricky Pearsall - Florida |
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82% |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba - Ohio State |
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81% |
Draft Profile: Bio
The Steilacoom, Washington native arrived in Columbus as Washington's 2019 Gatorade Player of the Year after recording 83 catches, 1,607 yards, and 25 touchdowns as a senior. At Ohio State, Egbuka has displayed remarkable consistency, capped by a senior campaign with 47 receptions, 587 yards and 8 touchdowns through 11 games in 2024, pushing his career totals to 171 receptions, 2,444 yards and 22 touchdowns.His 2022 campaign highlighted his playmaking ability with 74 catches for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns, including six 100-yard games. After battling injuries in 2023 (41 receptions, 515 yards, 4 TDs), he rebounded in 2024 with improved explosiveness, averaging 12.5 yards per catch and leading the team with 8 receiving touchdowns, including a season-long 68-yard score.
The Academic All-American has earned Third-Team All-Big Ten (2023) and Second-Team All-Big Ten (2022) honors while setting program records. He finished ninth nationally in receiving yards (1,151) in 2022 and ranked third in the Big Ten in receptions, yards, and touchdowns that season.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Technician in his stems who sets up breaks with crafty head fakes and tempo changes in the route tree
- Plus short-area quickness allows clean breaks at the top of routes with minimal wasted movement
- Natural hands catcher who plucks away from frame and adjusts body positioning to shield defenders
- Displays savvy understanding of spatial awareness when working against zone coverage
- Slippery runner after the catch who sets up blocks and finds cutback lanes in space
- Shows juice as a return specialist with vision to hit creases and accelerate through traffic
- Plus competitive toughness as a blocker who sustains and drives through contact
- Proven production against press coverage with refined release package from slot alignments
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Medical red flags after missing three games in 2023 with lower body injuries affecting explosion
- Limited exposure to boundary alignments with majority of snaps coming from slot
- Below average catch radius restricts ability to expand strike zone outside frame
- Lacks ideal build-up speed to consistently stack corners on vertical routes
- Can get muscled off stems by physical corners in press coverage situations
Scouting Report: Summary
Refined route runner whose 2024 campaign (8 TDs, 12.5 yards per catch) demonstrates improved explosiveness and red zone prowess. Shows advanced ability to win with technique rather than pure athleticism, particularly excelling on option routes and working between the hashes.Natural fit in a timing-based system that emphasizes quick game concepts and horizontal spacing from slot alignments. The combination of reliable hands and precise route running translates immediately to third down and red zone situations at the next level.
Has shown consistent improvement each season with notable development in release technique and route salesmanship. While primarily a slot operator, his 2024 performance (68-yard TD, 587 yards through 11 games) showcases enough versatility to align across formations in creative offensive schemes. Return ability adds day one special teams value.
Written By:
K.C. Martinez (Big Ten)
Emeka Egbuka percentiles vs other Wide Receivers (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Emeka Egbuka (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
27.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
3.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.