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NFL Draft 2025: Former Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka picked No. 19 overall in Round 1
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Ohio State knows all about placing big-time receivers into the NFL, and that list added another name in Emeka Egbuka on Thursday night.
Heading into the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, it was not a given that Egbuka would be selected during the first evening. The drama was eventually removed when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers grabbed Egbuka with the No. 19 overall in the draft.
Egbuka was a budding NFL prospect after a breakout sophomore campaign with 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022. Unfortunately, injuries severely limited his production in 2023, and the wide receiver returned to Ohio State for his senior season to rebuild that draft stock.
The plan worked with Egbuka shining with 1,011 yards and 8 touchdowns for a Buckeye team that captured the national title. While star freshman Jeremiah Smith led the team in yardage and touchdowns, Egbuka led the team with 81 receptions this year.
In the process, Egbuka rewrote the all-time record books in Ohio State history. He holds Buckeye program records for receptions (205) and receiving yardage (2,868) and ranks 7th all-time with 24 receiving touchdowns.
After becoming a first-round pick, Egbuka runs Ohio State’s streak of drafts with a first-round receiver to 4. That streak began in 2022 when Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave went back-to-back with the 10th and 11th overall picks.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2023) and Marvin Harrison Jr. (2024) are the other first-round receivers for the Buckeyes in that stretch. Now, Egbuka adds to the illustrious track record of WRs coach Brian Hartline with at least 1 WR selected in 6 of the last 7 NFL Drafts.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.