Star Buckeyes WR Emeka Egbuka reveals key reason for returning to Ohio State over entering NFL draft

Emeka Egbuka decided to return to Ohio State for an additional season with the aim of achieving redemption on Michigan.

The star wide receiver participated in 10 games during 2023, overcoming a left ankle sprain that affected him in the latter part of the season. His sophomore year saw him become the ninth wide receiver in the history of Ohio State football to surpass 1,000 yards.

Opting out of entering the NFL draft this spring, where projections placed him within the first three rounds, Egbuka chose to conclude his collegiate career on a high note. His decision comes after he experienced three successive defeats to Michigan and did not secure a national championship—outcomes he aims to reverse this year.

“It just so happened that we all came together and we were all thinking the same thing,” Egbuka said this week at Big Ten media days. “That was really special to be a part of, to know that I wasn’t alone and what I was feeling.”

Egbuka is among the 16 starters returning to Ohio State this season, with 11 of them having had the option to declare for the draft. His decision to stay is also motivated by a desire to guide the younger players in his division.

Underclassmen Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss are expected to have standout sophomore seasons, while Jeremiah Smith, the top recruit for the 2024 class, is anticipated to contribute substantially from the start. Egbuka's on-field performance is set to serve as an exemplar for these budding players.

Last season, Egbuka’s performance yielded 41 receptions for 515 yards and four touchdowns. As he faces his fourth season in 2024, he will adjust to working with a third quarterback. Kansas State transfer Will Howard is currently leading, though Coach Day has yet to officially announce the starting quarterback. Ohio State is scheduled to commence training camp the following week.

“He can catch a handoff, run a bubble, he can block, he can run deep routes, there’s not much Emeka can’t do,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “He can do a lot of things as a player. When I think about him as a player, it’s somebody who is strong.”

By choosing to remain for another year, Egbuka is not only looking to enhance his legacy at Ohio State but is also drawn by the opportunity to continue earning through NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) endorsements.

Jim Nagy, the executive director of Reese’s Senior Bowl and a veteran NFL scout, remarked to On3 in February that the NIL framework enables players to make more informed decisions regarding their football careers.

“A lot of guys used to leave early, even knowing they probably weren’t going to get drafted,” Nagy said. “They felt like they needed to bet on themselves and take a shot or a difficult family circumstance. Now they don’t have to do that.”

For Egbuka, a final season at Columbus is significant for personal achievement and the potential to improve his prospects in the NFL draft, where he could emerge as a first-round selection.

Egbuka, a former five-star recruit, has secured prominent NIL deals with brands such as Amazon Style, EA Sports, and Casey’s, alongside collaborations with Ohio State's NIL collectives, The Foundation and The 1870 Society.

With an On3 NIL Valuation of $751,000, placing him among the top 25 in college football, Egbuka acknowledges the influence of NIL in his decision to postpone his entry into the NFL, a sentiment he shared at the Big Ten media days when queried by On3.

“I came in my freshman year, and it was kind of implemented early on,” he said. “For some of the other guys that came in and they started college right with NIL, it’s just allowed us to make money, which I don’t think is a bad thing. It had some implications as to why some of the guys decided to come back for their senior year because the NFL is always going to be there. That money is always going to be there. We’re able to make a little bit of an earning while we’re here in college, so I think it’s a bonus.”