If there was something wrong with Emeka Egbuka’s hip or groin, the rookie wideout deserves an Academy Award for hiding it. Because from the opening whistle at Raymond James Stadium, the Buccaneers’ No. 19th overall pick looked every bit like a star in the making. Against Sauce Gardner, the All-Pro corner who’s usually a rookie’s nightmare, Egbuka showcased what Ohio State delivers to the NFL. 

Ryan Day’s WR squad got some NFL spotlight from ESPN’s Sam Block, thanks to Emeka Egbuka’s unbelievable catch. “Draft Ohio State Wide Receivers,” he wrote on X on September 21, posting a photo of the one-handed catch. From Chris Olave to Garrett Wilson, to Marvin Harrison Jr., the Buckeye assembly line never misses. 

Egbuka has arrived in Tampa Bay. After the one-handed snag over Sauce Gardner and a clutch 28-yarder on the game-winning drive, other NFL teams must already be wishing they’d made the gamble and picked him in the draft. The Buccaneers squeaked past the Jets 29-27, but everyone knew who stole the show.

Egbuka’s resume keeps stacking up. In Week 1, he caught a game-winning touchdown. Week 2, he hauled in another score. And in Week 3, an acrobatic one-hander that had Baker Mayfield joking after the game saying, “He’s disrespecting my passes downfield with one hand. Rookies.” Turns out the Ohio State scouting report was dead on. This guy was NFL-ready from day one. And if you’re wondering where this kind of polish comes from, the answer is simple. Columbus, Ohio.

Emeka Egbuka is a Buckeye blueprint 

The pipeline out of Columbus has become the NFL’s most reliable export. Sam Block wasn’t exaggerating when he doubled down with another post writing, “They teach this at Ohio State.” He shared a collage of Buckeye receivers making one-handed grabs. With Emeka Egbuka, the tradition rolls on. He’s only three games into his pro career. 

Sauce Gardner was supposed to be the ultimate stress test. Though his stat line read 35 yards at halftime, Egbuka had accounted for nearly 30% of Bakery Mayfield’s production to that point. Jamel Dean’s 55-yard pick-six before halftime swung the momentum. But when the Jets clawed back late, it was Egbuka who delivered. His 28-yard reception set up the winning score, sealing the game for Tampa Bay. The former Buckeyes receiver finished with six receptions for 85 yards.

If history has taught us anything, it is to never bet against an Ohio State star wideout. Ohio State has consistently sent star wideouts to the NFL. Michael Thomas became the NFL’s single-season receptions leader by catching 149 passes in 2019. He was also a two-time All-Pro. Terry McLaurin has three straight 1,000-yard seasons with Washington. Chris Olave opened his career with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for New Orleans. Garrett Wilson has won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and already has two 1,000-yard seasons for the Jets. Marvin Harrison Jr. was the first WR drafted and is projected as Arizona’s top target from Day 1. Emeka Egbuka is becoming part of an established a legacy. And the NFL better get used to it, because Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith are already loading up in the pipeline.