Latest news with #Egbuka
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Baker Mayfield heaps more praise on former Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka
If you've been paying attention to things coming out of OTAs for the various NFL franchises, you must have picked up on the fact that former wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has been making a lot of fans down in Tampa. The Bucs already had one whale of a wide receiver room, but they decided to double down and take Egbuka with their first-round NFL draft pick to give quarterback Baker Mayfield another weapon through the air. So far, so good, according to Mayfield. The Tampa Bay quarterback has already said some flattering things about Egbuka when he first got a look at him, but now, the former Heisman winner turned NFL Pro Bowler has continued to heap praise on Ohio State's all-time leading receiver. Egbuka not only has the physical tools to be special, but he's got a high football IQ and is a model citizen on and off the field. According to Mayfield, the sky is the limit. 'Obviously, the physical tools…At this level, you have to have talent, and obviously, he has that, being a first-round draft pick, Mayfield said. "The thing that sticks out is how cerebral he is. He's so smart. Right now, I think we could plug-and-play him at every receiver spot – he understands the offense that well. That's just him being a pro already. He's not a rookie – he doesn't act like it at least.' That's impressive for a rookie who hasn't even taken his first snap in the NFL yet. Egbuka's work ethic is legendary, and we all know how he handled himself with the media and among his teammates. If there's a guy to keep an eye on this year that might surpass expectations, look no further than down in Tampa where Egbuka is making a case to see a lot of playing time. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield Praises Rookie WR Emeka Egbuka's 'Ownership of the Offense'
Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield Praises Rookie WR Emeka Egbuka's 'Ownership of the Offense' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' first day of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, the players had a chance to answer questions from the media. Advertisement It's the first time many of the players have had a chance to work out with the rookies and the newcomers to One Buc Place. While it's just one day, and chemistry and relationships still need to be manifested, quarterback Baker Mayfield says he's impressed with first-round draft pick Emeka Egbuka. Mayfield was so impressed with Egbuka ahead of mandatory minicamp that he texted general manager Jason Licht to congratulate him on the pick. He also spoke highly of Egbuka after Day 1 of Bucs' mandatory minicamp on Tuesday. "At this point, it's the physical tools, obviously, at this level, you have to have talent, and he has that, being a first-round draft pick," Mayfield said via JP Peterson of Fan Stream Sports - Tampa Bay. "The thing that sticks out is how cerebral he is. He's so smart. Right now, I think we could probably put him in any receiver spot. I think he understands the offense that well. He's not a rookie; he doesn't act like it, at least. It's been really good to see him take that ownership; he takes it extremely serious. Advertisement He's in constant communication. He always wants to be sure he's in the right spot at the right time. ... It's a nice luxury to have." Egbuka could be thrust into a meaningful role in the offense sooner than expected if Chris Godwin hasn't fully recovered from his gruesome ankle injury suffered in Week 10 last year against Baltimore. Godwin looks like he won't be ready to play the beginning of the year, and the combination of second-year wideout Jalen McMillan and Egbuka could help pick up the slack in his absence. Related: 'He's Pissed Off!' Buccaneers Expect Haason Reddick to Attend Mandatory Minicamp Related: Bucs 'Starving' in 2025 per Star RB This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
11-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
LOOK: Former Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka shows of new Tampa Bay uniform
LOOK: Former Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka shows of new Tampa Bay uniform The Ohio State football program saw a whopping 14 players get selected in the 2025 NFL draft, with four of them hearing their names called in the first round. One of those first-rounders, and the first one off the board, was wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the No. 19 overall pick. So yeah, from the Bucks to the Bucs, if you will. Emeka becomes the only former Ohio State player on the roster and adds to a wide receiver room in Tampa that might be the best in the NFL. Egbuka looked great in the Scarlet and Gray (who doesn't), but on Tuesday, we got our first look at him in the red and pewter of the Bucs as he posed for some media opportunities during the first day of mini-camp in Tampa. The all-time receptions leader in OSU history won't be wearing the No. 2 we saw him in while running crisp routes in Columbus, but will instead don the No. 9 in "Champa Bay." Here's a look at Egbuka in his new digs in Tampa. Hopefully, we'll see plenty of these scoreboard videos of him during the season this fall and winter. There will be plenty of former Ohio State players running around and doing special athletic moves on the football field in NFL stadiums this fall, and we'll be here to make note of many of those moments. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka Using Vets' Experience To Hone His Craft
Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka Using Vets' Experience To Hone His Craft originally appeared on Athlon Sports. We don't often like to use the word perfect around here, but sometimes it is appropriate, and when it comes to a young rookie receiver landing in a perfect spot, we think Emeka Egbuka has landed in such a place with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Advertisement Entering an offense that has Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Baker Mayfield, Egbuka has three quality Pro Bowl players to learn from, something that other receivers from his draft class don't have. Yes, he might be a little down the pecking order right now, but Emeka is using what is available to him to learn and grow as a player. When appearing on NFL Network's The Insiders, Egbuka detailed how much help he's gotten from Tampa Bay's veterans. "Considering the room that I'm in, with such established vets and pros and with Baker at the helm of the offense, I'm just taking bits and pieces every single day learning from them," Egbuka said on the Insiders. "There's really not a scenario throughout the day where I don't learn from them. So I'm just trying to use every experience here to be able to learn, grow, and establish a routine here so I can be the most successful I can be." Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Talk about fast-tracking your development. Advertisement Some were confused as to why the Buccaneers selected Emeka in the first round of the NFL Draft, considering the defensive needs, but maybe the Ohio State stud is seen as Evans' replacement in a year or two. So learning as much as he can now, not only from Mike, but Godwin, Cade Otton, and Mayfield, will set him up well for the future. The best trait a rookie can have is to be a sponge and soak up any information they can get, and for Egbuka, he's doing just that in the hopes of hitting the ground running in his first season. Related: Buccaneers New Coach Passing First Test in Unique Role Related: Buccaneers Offense Trying To Match High Expectations in 2025 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
NBC Sports
07-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Chris Godwin's new contract has no exceptions for his ankle injury
After the Buccaneers selected Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka with the 19th pick in the 2025 draft, some assumed that the Bucs were concerned about veteran receiver Chris Godwin's availability for the start of the season. If the team has such concerns, those concerns didn't make their way into the three-year, $66 million contract Godwin signed with the Buccaneers in March. PFT has obtained and reviewed the contract. There's no language regarding the injury. Nothing that, for example, conditions any of the $20.745 million 2025 roster bonus on passing a physical. (The second and final installment is due in six days.) Nothing that creates an exception for any aggravation of the injury or related condition. Maybe the Bucs had no choice, given that Godwin had a better financial offer on the table from the Patriots. And while the Patriots ultimately signed receiver Stefon Diggs to a deal containing protections for the team against his torn ACL, Diggs didn't have many (or maybe any) other options. Godwin possibly was able to leverage the interest of the Patriots and Buccaneers into a deal that didn't protect the team against the injury that predated the contract. Still, the contract becomes an important piece of tangible evidence to counter the notion that the Bucs drafted Egbuka because they're concerned about Godwin's health. If they were sufficiently concerned to use a first-round pick on his short-term replacement, why would they have committed $44 million in guarantees to Godwin? So why Egbuka? Well, Mike Evans is entering his 12th season, and he'll be 32 in August. They'll need to have a replacement ready to go, at some point. Besides, the Bucs don't exactly have many pressing roster needs. They were able to take the best available player when they were on the clock. Which they did.
