After what Bucs wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has done in Tampa Bay through five games, he has now reached a nationwide audience. Egbuka recently appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and was asked plenty about his background and hot start as his star continues to rise.
The rookie sensation used that larger platform to discuss his journey at Ohio State and what it is like sharing a wide receiver room led by Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr. in the NFL.
Emeka Egbuka Was Pushed To Be Great At Ohio State
Emeka Egbuka could have attended any school to play college football. As a highly sought-after player dating back to his high school days, Egbuka wanted to be challenged.
Not just to be a starting wide receiver anywhere, but to be pushed toward greatness by his teammates. That is why Egbuka chose to play for the Buckeyes. As a freshman in 2021, he played alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Marvin Harrison Jr.
Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: USA Today
It is not even a reach to be of the opinion that they made up the greatest wide receiver room in NCAA Football history. It was so stacked in fact that Egbuka had just nine catches for 191 yards that year, while Harrison had 11 catches for 139 yards and three touchdowns. It would largely remain that way for the rest of his college career, as he ceded touches to Smith-Njigba, Harrison, and Jeremiah Smith in 2024.
Reflecting on that journey playing alongside four and soon to be five first-rounders, Egbuka is grateful for how it made him ready to immediately enter the next level and contribute.
“I think Ohio State has made me ready for my NFL career in a lot of way,” Egbuka opened by saying on The Pat McAfee Show. “I think something that the wide receiver room at Ohio State prides itself on is having three WR1s at any given time. We have all the ability to be able to dominate any given game, and we’re all super confident in that ability. Being in that room for so many years and competing with those guys [daily] made me into such a better football player.
“That was part of the reason that I went to Ohio State. I was a five-star, top 10 recruit, number one wide receiver in my class. Could have gone anywhere, ‘Bama, Clemson was hot at the time when I was coming out, but I wanted to go to Ohio State because I knew that that receiver room was special, and I needed to be — I wanted to grow my ability and not just see the field right away. I knew I needed to actually push myself because I have big goals for my future in the NFL.”
Now, Emeka Egbuka Enjoys Playing Next To Bucs WRs Mike Evans And Chris Godwin Jr.
Emeka Egbuka was never considered the best wide receiver at Ohio State, not with Marvin Harrison Jr. hyped up as a generational talent and drafted fourth overall and Jeremiah Smith looking like the next superstar as a freshman last season.
Drafted by the Bucs in the first round, Egbuka found himself in a similar position, sharing a room with the legendary Mike Evans and former Pro Bowl wideout Chris Godwin Jr. Seen as the third-best wide receiver in the room to begin this season, ‘Mek’ has been far and away the best and has largely carried the offense with Evans and Godwin battling with injuries and out this week.
Bucs WRs Emeka Egbuka and Mike Evans – Photo by: USA Today
It has only been five games, but Egbuka has 25 catches for 445 receiving yards and five touchdowns. That already has him in rarified air and company as a rookie.
More than just his talent, he credits his two veteran teammates for playing a big part in his early results.
“It’s been super instrumental in my success,” Egbuka said on having Evans and Godwin to lean on and learn from. “Obviously, part of the reason I was a first-round pick is because of my natural talent and my ability that God gave me. Just the confidence that they put into me on the mental side of things. Making sure I know my job, they always have an open ear for me to ask any question. I’m a big question asker, so I probably annoy them with how much I ask but they’re always ready to answer and give me the real.
Bucs WRs Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. – Photo by: USA Today
“They just pump so much confidence into me. Mike is a dude who is constantly in my ear, telling me, ‘You were built for this. You can do this. You’re made for this. You’re that guy.’ Having someone like that, a Hall of Famer who believes in you to that type of level, just makes you go out on the field and really ball out and do what you were made to do.”
Emeka Egbuka has balled out to begin this season, and he will look to keep it up on Sunday afternoon facing the 49ers. Do not be surprised if he continues making the highlight plays Bucs fans have seen on a weekly basis. From an early age, he was driven to be a difference-maker.