Kirk Herbstreit: Emeka Egbuka is the next Terry McLaurin in the NFL

Washington Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin was overlooked at times during his time at Ohio State, before blossoming into a star in the NFL. ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit expects current Buckeyes wideout Emeka Egbuka to follow a similar path.

Herbstreit compared Emeka Egbuka to Terry McLaurin during The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, adding that he can’t wait to see what Egbuka accomplishes at the next level.

“Emeka Egbuka is the next Terry McLaurin,” Kirk Herbstreit said. “Emeka Egbuka, he will be the guy, like, Terry McLaurin, even now when you talk about Ohio State receivers, everyone’s like Chris Olave or Garrett Wilson, JSN or Marvin Harrison. People forget about Terry and what he did. It reminds me so much of Emeka Egbuka.”

Terry McLaurin was at Ohio State from 2014-18. During his final season with the Buckeyes, he caught 35 passes for 701 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 20 yards per reception.

McLaurin played alongside Parris Campbell, Curtis Samuel and others during his time with the Buckeyes, which kept him from getting the recognition he deserved.

As for Emeka Egbuka, he finishes his career with two 1,000-yard seasons for the Buckeyes, but he also has gotten overlooked at times while playing alongside Marvin Harrison Jr., Jaxon Smith-Njigba and this past season Jeremiah Smith.

“It’s like he’s always the other guy,” Herbstreit said of Egbuka. “Always the other guy on Ohio State’s own roster. Marvin Harrison, now the rookie. I’m telling you right now, he is going to go to the NFL and be a stud. He will be a superstar. He’s intelligent, competitive, warrior. Not to mention uberly talented. Just be ready for that one.”

Herbstreit has an impressive track record when it comes to predicting success in the NFL as he picked Jayden Daniels to be a superstar before last year’s draft. Daniels now has the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game as a rookie.

His pick for this year’s draft is Egbuka and he feels strongly that Egbuka will excel in the NFL.

“I gave you Jayden Daniels last year. Emeka Egbuka will be that guy next year,” Herbstreit said. “Team guy, locker room guy. … Blocks his ass off. Like he wants to block. Not only are you on the backburner to Marvin Harrison, not only that, but you’ve gotta block on this play and he’s like, ‘I’ll dig that safety out. Give him to me.’ I love dudes like that.”