Ohio State football WR and Captain Emeka Egbuka looking to lead on and off the field in finale as a Buckeye.

Emeka Egbuka, the former five-star, and number eight prospect overall, was recently named as one of four captains for the 2024 Ohio State Buckeyes. He joins defensive end Jack Sawyer, linebacker Cody Simon, and running back TreVeyon Henderson as the leaders of the talented football team.

Egbuka dealt with injuries last season and was often underappreciated in his past seasons due to the star players or players in front of him. With guys like Marvin Harrison Jr., Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, and Chris Olave all at the next level, Egbuka has the reins of yet another talented wide receiver corps.

In his freshman season in 2021, Egbuka had just six catches for 145 yards. He played in 11 games and saw offensive snaps in eight of them, but was buried behind a plethora of talented wideouts. In his Sophomore season, he burst onto the scene with 66 receptions, 1,039 yards, and nine touchdowns. 

Add on eight receptions, 112 receiving yards, and a touchdown against the No.1 ranked Georgia Bulldogs in the postseason, and you get the sixth-most receiving yards in a season in Buckeye history. Egbuka finished ninth nationally in yards, and ninth in receptions of 10 yards or more.

Last season and his third in Columbus, Egbuka dealt with nagging injuries that kept him out of three important Big Ten games. He still managed 35 catches, 452 yards, and four touchdowns but was dealt a bad hand with injury luck throughout the season. The Steilacoom, Washington native still landed a spot on the all-Big Ten third team voted on by the coaches.

It is undeniable that this kid has talent when he is healthy and goes beyond the field. Egbuka has earned academic awards all three seasons with Ohio State, including Academic All-Big Ten the past two years. He graduated in December with a marketing degree and now will have his full focus on leading the offense this season.

Star Wideout Seeking Big Season in Final Year with the Scarlet and Gray

The offense has some familiar faces, but also some new ones. The running back room is experienced and features two of the best in the business, but the wide receiver room is a little inexperienced. Not to mention, a new quarterback throwing them the ball and an offensive line with a few question marks remaining.

Lining up next to Egbuka this season at wide receiver will likely be sophomore Carnell Tate and superstar freshman Jeremiah Smith. Behind him are sophomore Brandon Inniss, freshman Mylan Graham, and redshirt junior Jayden Ballard.

Egbuka has more experience and numbers than the other guys combined, but the talent the room possesses is undeniable. The graduate receiver will be leaned upon not just on the field, but at workouts, in the classroom, and in everyday life. The potential for the group is through the roof, but Egbuka and Ballard are the only guys with more than one year under their belt.

His peers trusted him so much that they chose to vote him one of only four captains, which is a testament to the player and person he is. With a full off-season to regain that health, burst, and chemistry with his teammates and quarterback, Egbuka has the potential to be the best receiver in all of college football.

He needs 78 receptions to break K.J. Hill’s school record of 201 career receptions, and 1,041 receiving yards to break Michael Jenkins’ school record of 2,898 career receiving yards. If Egbuka is anywhere close to his Sophomore season production and impact, he will break school records en route to a long and successful season of Buckeye football.