FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.
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2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Emeka Egbuka
Emeka Egbuka (WR – Ohio State)
6-foot-1 | 206 Pounds
Background
Emeka Egbuka was a five-star recruit who was considered the top receiver in his class despite his team’s senior season being delayed. Caught nine passes as a freshman, primarily functioning as a return specialist.
Egbuka took over as a starter the following year, primarily playing out of the slot, and put together an excellent 74-1,151-10 (15.6) line. Sustained a lower-leg injury against Maryland last year and missed a few games, ending the season with 41-514-4 (12.5). Opted to return to school in 2024, where he put together an impressive 81-1,011-10 (12.5) line.
Positives
A highly-regarded recruit who had two excellent seasons at a program renowned for its receiver products. Thickly-built receiver who’s played both inside and out (much more often in the slot) and has the sort of frame you’d look for in a guy who works the middle of the field as much as he does. Runs routes to all different levels, but primarily a lot of underneath stuff and other routes breaking over the middle (slants, overs, etc.)
Egbuka plays with a sense of urgency and some twitchy traits. Shows quick, clean feet to release at the line against press coverage and can stay on track against physical opponents. Gets up to speed quickly and is capable of threatening down the seams or creating separation on over routes, which he runs often. Route stems look sharp and he doesn’t need to gear down much, allowing him to create throwing windows on the break.
Egbuka sells double moves well, with good head-fakes and commitment with his hips to open up opponents. Does a nice job of flattening out his routes on patterns breaking over the middle of the field. Shows good awareness to locate and settle into soft spots against zone coverage. Offers a reliable pair of hands and good concentration when opponents are in phase. Adjusts well away from his frame. Career 54.3% receiver in contested-catch situations, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). Runs with some physicality and is often motioned for jet sweeps or as window dressing. Contact balance as a runner looks good.
Negatives
Junior-year injury may require further medical investigation during the pre-draft process. Has taken over 70% of his snaps out of the slot. The percentage of his snaps where he was split out wide declined each season. Separation downfield comes from route-running savvy, rather than elite top-end speed. Egbuka caught just fourteen deep throws over the past three years.
The Ohio State receiver doesn’t provide quite as big a target as some of the other top receivers in the class. Not the most elusive or dynamic after the catch; more competitive and physical than game-breaking. Production after the play dipped in each year. Gives good effort as a blocker and has the frame to improve, but hasn’t been the most effective.
Summary
Another highly-polished Buckeyes receiver prospect, Egbuka’s excellent combination of acceleration, quickness, route-running savvy, hands and toughness should make him a highly reliable pro receiver.
Likely would have been a first-round pick last year had he stayed healthy. Coming back to put together the season he did gives him a very good chance of going there this year if everything checks out medically during the pre-draft process. A nice reliable, pro-ready big slot option.
Projection: Round 1
Check out all of our 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Reports 
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A very big, smooth, savvy receiver with an incredible catch radius and a graceful game, McMillan established himself as one of the best wide receivers in college football over the past two seasons. May never be the fastest or most explosive wide receiver, but has a great understanding of how to use tempo, nuance and technique to create separation.
Is capable of coming down with contested catches even in tight coverage, with rare size that makes him a mismatch for most cornerbacks. May not have quite the same strength and physicality as Mike Evans did coming out, but is a similar prospect and should go similarly high in the first round, likely within the first five or 10 picks.
Projection: Round 1
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A dynamic player with the ball in his hands, Burden’s combination of speed, quickness, vision, balance and physicality led the Tigers to scheme up ways to get him the ball, whether on underneath throws, sweeps, screens or otherwise. He also offers some impressive traits as a receiver, with good stop-start quickness to create separation, impressive tracking and body control and a strong pair of hands.
As it currently stands, he doesn’t have a ton of recent experience playing outside and will need to continue diversifying his route tree and polishing his route-running technique, but that doesn’t look like it will stop him from being a first-round pick.
Projection: Round 1
Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Luther Burden III
More 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Reports for Wide Receivers
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- Tre Harris III (Mississippi)
- Matthew Golden (Texas)
- Xavier Restrepo (Miami)
- Tez Johnson (Oregon)
- Tai Felton (Maryland)
- Savion Williams (TCU)
- Pat Bryant (Illinois)
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