Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Emeka Egbuka set off fresh debate by revealing his personal ranking of Ohio State’s greatest wide receivers, just as questions emerged about his Week 3 availability.
Whom Did Egbuka Name as the Best Buckeye Receivers?
Speaking with NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Egbuka was asked to name his top five Ohio State wideouts of all time. He ultimately stretched the list to six, underscoring the program’s depth.
“You are gonna have to go, Cris Carter,” Egbuka began, referencing the Hall of Famer. “I’ll put Marv (Harrison) in there, you know because he was a top four Heisman candidate. You got Ted Ginn, speedster, takes the top off, so he was really fun to watch. There is another spot up there between David Boston and Michael Jenkins, those two. Chris Olave, leader in receiving touchdowns.”
I asked #Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka for his top 5 Ohio State WRs of all time.
He knows his Buckeye history!! And just wait until you hear what he said about Jeremiah Smith at the end 👀🔥 https://t.co/o5u5045cLP pic.twitter.com/Wbr9eq1vPu
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) September 18, 2025
He also pointed ahead to current Buckeye Jeremiah Smith as a potential future No. 1 on any all-time list, saying, “He has a real shot at being number one. I’ve never really seen Julio Jones or Calvin Johnson play in person. But I can only imagine it was very similar to this.”
Notably, Egbuka did not include himself, reflecting a consistent humility about his own collegiate tenure and emphasizing the extraordinary talent pipeline at Ohio State. “If they have their own list and they want to put me in there, that’s cool. But I’d like to have them in mine,” he said.
What Is Emeka Egbuka’s Injury Status?
Amid the buzz around his list, Egbuka’s status drew scrutiny ahead of Week 3. Through two games, he has produced efficiently for Tampa Bay, logging eight receptions for 96 yards and three touchdowns as he integrates into the Buccaneers’ offense. However, he did not participate in Thursday’s practice due to hip and groin injuries, per the team’s injury report, leaving his availability for Sunday against the New York Jets uncertain pending final designations.
Emeka Egbuka
What is he dealing with and how concerning is it? pic.twitter.com/hT1ChNjFKL
— Jesse Morse, M.D. (@DrJesseMorse) September 18, 2025
Tampa Bay’s receiving corps has been managing early-season health questions, with Chris Godwin limited in practice this week. If Egbuka is unavailable, the Buccaneers are positioned to lean more heavily on Mike Evans while elevating opportunities for depth options on the perimeter and in the slot. The club’s Friday injury report will clarify Egbuka’s game status and inform any corresponding roster or game-plan adjustments.
Two aspects stand out for the Buccaneers. Egbuka’s college insights are getting fans talking, and his injury will affect how much he can play against the Jets. As the team gets ready for Sunday, everyone is watching to see if Egbuka will be able to take the field.
