The Ohio State Buckeyes lost star wide receiver Emeka Egbuka to a lower-body injury in the second half of their Week 6 contest against the Maryland Terrapins. What is the latest on the 2024 NFL Draft prospect’s status ahead of the team’s Week 8 game against Penn State?
Emeka Egbuka Injury: Latest News on Ohio State WR and 2024 NFL Draft Prospect
Egbuka left the Maryland game in Week 6 with an unspecified lower-body injury and proceeded to sit out the team’s Week 7 win against Purdue. Currently, Egbuka is listed as questionable.
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Egbuka’s specific status is unclear ahead of the team’s top-10 clash with conference rival Penn State. And at his latest opportunity, Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day was apprehensive to provide a clear update on Egbuka’s level of readiness.
On Tuesday, Day said the following to media about Egbuka and other injured players for the Buckeyes: “I’m not gonna get into all those guys, but hopeful that we’ll have all those guys back for Saturday.”
Egbuka isn’t the only offensive star questionable for the Buckeyes’ high-stakes battle with the Nittany Lions. Running back Tre’Veyon Henderson’s status is also unclear. But Egbuka’s absence would be particularly damaging against a Penn State secondary that boasts Kalen King, Johnny Dixon, and Daequan Hardy.
The Buckeyes will have top receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. available, but the unit is thin beyond him.
Egbuka Still Aiming To Play Up to His 2024 NFL Draft Stock
Egbuka entered the year as a borderline top-10 2024 NFL Draft prospect on PFN’s board, and he remains a first-round caliber player. But his production thus far hasn’t quite been at the dominant level many expected.
Through five games played thus far, Egbuka has logged 22 catches for 303 yards and three touchdowns. When he’s been healthy, he’s largely been a complementary threat to Harrison Jr., but he’s also proven his mettle as a go-to weapon in clutch situations, such as the game against Notre Dame.
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At 6’1″, 205 pounds, Egbuka has a very appealing three-level threat framework at wide receiver. He’s a nuanced separator with sharp movement skills, a stoic catch-point operator with smooth and strong hands, and a valuable RAC threat with his explosiveness and balance.
To get the full accounting of Egbuka’s strengths and weaknesses as a 2024 NFL Draft, as well as an NFL Draft projection, you can see his scouting report here at Pro Football Network.