Following their 2025 national championship run, Ohio State teammates Will Howard and Emeka Egbuka stay locked in as they prepare for the NFL Draft. As he has all season, Howard continues to support his teammates with draft day approaching. After their improbable title run, the Buckeye duo had nothing but praise for each other.
Will Howard: High Praise for ‘Special’ Emeka Egbuka
The 2025 national championship offensive MVP joined ESPN insider and analyst Adam Schefter on his self-titled show and was asked who he thinks is NFL-ready from the Ohio State roster.
Ohio State QB @whoward_ believes his teammate WR Emeka Egbuka is poised to be a “special” NFL player.
🎧 https://t.co/GRQGKw5pwx pic.twitter.com/cpGajULJB6
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter)
Schefter kicked things off by asking if any traits from his teammates jump off the charts as NFL material.
“It’s hard to pick one,” Howard said. “I could go on defense and talk about Jack Sawyer, JT [Tuimoloau], Lathan [Ransom], Denzel [Burke], all those guys, Cody [Simon] — I mean, some of the hardest-working dudes I’ve ever been around. Offensively, we’ve got some of the best weapons between Tre [Henderson], Q [Quinshon Judkins], and obviously our O-linemen — they’re gonna be studs at the next level.”
“But one guy I’ve been saying over and over — and I think he’s a special, special guy — is Emeka Egbuka.”
Howard went deeper on what makes Egbuka an NFL-ready prospect.
“I see something different with him, man,” Howard said. “He’s got unbelievable route-running ability, he’s got great speed, some of the best hands I’ve been around. And on top of that, he’s one of the best guys I’ve ever been around.”
He added, “He’s super into his faith, understands the game like a quarterback. You could sit him down in a quarterback meeting and he could spit stuff out damn near like I could, and it’s pretty impressive. I know he’s got a really bright future ahead of him.”
The 6-foot-4 quarterback finished by shouting out one more teammate in addition to Egbuka.
“I hate to put it on just one guy,” Howard said. “There’s so many dudes that are gonna make a big splash. I think TreVeyon Henderson is going to be an unbelievable pro. We’ll see — I know all of these guys are gonna be great pros, but Emeka is special, man.”
Where Does National Champion WR Fall in Mock Draft?
Using PFSN’s 2025 Mock Draft Simulator, the Ohio State standout lands with the Pittsburgh Steelers at 21st overall. Even though the Steelers recently added DK Metcalf, pairing him with George Pickens and Egbuka could be electric.
PFSN’s Brentley Weissman backed up Howard’s praise by evaluating what makes Egbuka a top-tier NFL fit.
“Egbuka is a well-built slot receiver who projects as a reliable chain mover at the next level. He offers good overall size for the position and has good strength and athleticism. He primarily aligned in the slot while at Ohio State, and that is where he will likely call home at the next level.
“Egbuka is an excellent route runner who runs his routes with the type of nuance and technique you’d expect from a Brian Hartline-trained product. Egbuka understands how to use head and body fakes to create separation and is outstanding in using his hands to keep his body clear throughout the stem of his route.”
Egbuka could go anywhere from the top 10 to the final stretch of the first round. No matter where he lands, there’s no question the Steilacoom, Washington, native is one of the best wide receivers in this year’s draft class.
