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Emeka Egbuka selected No. 19 overall by Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Spencer-Holbrookby:Spencer Holbrook•04/24/25•

SpencerHolbrook

Emeka Egbuka by Mick Walker -- Lettermen Row --
Emeka Egbuka (Mick Walker/Lettermen Row)

COLUMBUS — Emeka Egbuka is the latest Ohio State wide receiver to become a highly drafted NFL prospect: he was selected No. 19 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Egbuka, the Buckeyes’ all-time receptions leader, team captain and national champion, will now have his shot to become a star in the NFL.

Egbuka, a former class of 2021 five-star prospect from Steilacoom, Washington, is the eighth Ohio State wide receiver to be drafted since wide receivers coach Brian Hartline took over as the coach of that position group back in 2018. He’s the fifth Buckeyes receiver to be selected in the first round — and his selection extends the streak of first rounds of the NFL Draft with an Ohio State wide receiver to four. Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave were taken in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Jaxon Smith-Njigba was selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft and Marvin Harrison Jr. was selected No. 4 overall last spring, the highest an Ohio State receiver has been drafted.

As good as all of those players were, none have their name in the record book for receptions like Egbuka does. The four-year wide receiver broke K.J. Hill’s record for most receptions in a season by an Ohio State receiver during the national title game back in January — a Buckeyes win.

Egbuka finished his career with 205 receptions for 2,868 receiving yards (30 shy of the all-time program record) and 24 receiving touchdowns to go with two rushing scores. He helped the Buckeyes win the 2022 Rose Bowl, the 2025 Rose Bowl, the 2025 Cotton Bowl and the 2025 national championship.

Now after a long, storied Ohio State career, Emeka Egbuka is the latest Buckeyes wide receiver to be selected early in the NFL Draft.

Ohio State players available in NFL Draft

QB Will Howard
RB TreVeyon Henderson
RB Quinshon Judkins
TE Gee Scott Jr.
OT Josh Simmons
OT Josh Fryar
OL Donovan Jackson
OL Seth McLaughlin
DE Jack Sawyer
DE J.T. Tuimoloau
DT Tyleik Williams
DT Ty Hamilton
LB Cody Simon
SAF Lathan Ransom
CB Denzel Burke
DB Jordan Hancock

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