Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka Announces Return For Senior Season

The slot star in back in Columbus for the 2024 season.

Emeka Egbuka is running it back. 

The junior receiver announced his intent to return to Ohio State for the 2024 season. Egbuka had garnered significant draft buzz entering the 2023 season, with some analysts believing he'd be a first-round pick. 

In 2022, Egubka emerged as a breakout star for the Buckeyes' offense in place of Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the slot. He hauled in 74 passes for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns, helping the Buckeyes secure a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinal.

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OSU had faith that the duo of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Egubka would shatter records in 2023 en route back to a Big Ten title. Production for Egbuka, however, dipped after he suffered an ankle injury in early October that required surgery. He'd miss three games, finally returning in November to close the regular season. 

Egbuka finished the season with 41 catches for 515 yards and four touchdowns. His two best games came against Notre Dame and Michigan, where he posted a combined 10 catches for 121 yards and a touchdown. 

After playing the Robin role to Harrison the past two seasons, Egbuka is now expected to become Ohio State's go-to target for the 2024 season, assuming Harrison enters the NFL draft. He'll now be the most experienced pass-catcher in the room with Julian Fleming at Penn State. 

Egbuka's return will give the Buckeyes consistency in the slot for new quarterback Will Howard, who committed to the program from Kansas State earlier this month. He leads a very inexperienced wide receiver room entering spring practice, which includes up-and-comers such as Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss, and incoming five-star freshman Jeremiah Smith. 

The Buckeyes, who finished 11-2 in 2023, are entering win-now mode under Ryan Day. After losing three consecutive times to Michigan, the pressure is boiling for the Buckeyes coach to secure a conference title next season, or he could be shown the door. 

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Even in a 12-team playoff era that could benefit a program like Ohio State, defeating Michigan has become a necessity for the coach in Columbus. The Buckeyes last won against the Wolverines in 2019 behind the arm of Justin Fields and the consistency of Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson at receiver. 

The offense should be primed for another run through the Big Ten with the return of Egbuka, and running back TreVeyon Henderson also potentially returning. Ohio State also recently added Ole Miss star and two-time 1,000-yard running back Quinshon Judkins via the portal.