Emeka Egbuka Making Great Early Impression With Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield

The former Buckeyes who left for the NFL over the offseason haven’t been on rosters long enough to have even played a preseason game at this point.

But that doesn’t mean they haven’t been able to show whether they will be able to make an impact on their pro squads. Emeka Egbuka, the first Buckeye off the board in the draft in April, has already made a big impression with his new quarterback.

Baker Mayfield, who is entering his third year under center for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, appeared on the New Heights podcast hosted by Travis and Jason Kelce, and the former Heisman winner gave a glowing review of his newest pass catcher.

“Emeka Egbuka is an absolute stud,” Mayfield said on. “He’s the real deal.”

Egbuka was the fifth Ohio State wide receiver in the last four years to go in the first round of the NFL draft, and there is an obvious reason that streak has continued this long. Each of Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marvin Harrison Jr. were NFL ready as soon as they left Columbus, and it seems like Egbuka will be no different.

While he enters possibly the best wide receiver group in the league, joining Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan and others, it seems like he still is going to be a consideration to earn a lot of playing time early on.

“You just can’t teach guys leaving the ground to catch the ball,” Mayfield told the Kelce brothers. “(Egbuka) is always grounded when he catches it, keeps moving. There’s (yards after the catch) potential out the wazoo there.”

It’s not only the talent and his abilities on the field that has impressed Mayfield, though. His football IQ and his willingness to do whatever is asked of him also received some praise.

“He’s just so damn smart,” Mayfield said. “He’s willing to block, willing to do everything we ask him to do. We can plug and play him at any of the three receiver spots right now. It’s pretty exciting.”