Oregon Ducks vs. Ohio State Top NFL Prospects To Watch: Emeka Egbuka, Denzel Burke

The Ohio State Buckeyes travel to Autzen Stadium to face off against the Oregon Ducks. Both teams are extremely talented, but the Buckeyes have a bevy of top-tier NFL prospects like wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, offensive tackle Josh Simmons and cornerback Denzel Burke.

Kyron Samuels | Oct 9, 2024

Sep 28, 2024; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) catches a pass against the Michigan State Spartans in the first half at Spartan Stadium on Saturday. / Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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When the Ohio State Buckeyes travel to Eugene, Oregon, to face off against the Oregon Ducks on Saturday, it’ll be one of college football's biggest regular season games this year. The newness of this matchup being a Big Ten Conference game undoubtedly adds to the intrigue. This contest will draw massive ratings and new eyes to the event.

The last game between these teams in 2021 was nothing short of remarkable. The matchup in Colubmus ended after Oregon's consensus All-American safety Verone McKinley III intercepted CJ Stroud in “The Shoe” to seal a 35-28 victory for the Oregon Ducks.

The penultimate meeting after the 2014 season saw the Ohio State Buckeyes win the inaugural College Football Playoff 42-20, and Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliot capped off one of the greatest four-game stretches in college football history. It has been a decade since the Buckeyes last won a national championship, and that game now represents the crescendo of the Urban Meyer era.

One thing that stood out above all in both matchups was the amount of NFL talent on the field on both sides of the ball and for both programs. The 2024 matchup will be no different, and it will attract a litany of NFL scouts and fans to tune into college games they don’t usually enjoy viewing.

Here are three Ohio State NFL prospects to watch for.

Dec 29, 2023; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Josh Simmons (71) blocks Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Darius Robinson (6) during the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Left Tackle Josh Simmons:

Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons is one of the best players in all of college football. The 6-5, 310 pounder is as about as “toolsy” of a player as you can find at the position. Simmons has fluid, athletic sets in pass protection. He has solid football IQ in blitz pickup situations and sniffs out stunts well on his run-blocking tracks. He also excels in down & double blocks in the run game. Another detail is Simmons takes great angles in backside pursuit, cuts off 3tech & climbs frequently.

Two areas where he has greatly improved this season are his anchor in pass protection and functional technique. Both will be tested against the Oregon EDGE group that are also NFL caliber.

Wide Receiver Emeka Egbuka:

Oct 5, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (2) celebrates a touchdown catch against Iowa Hawkeyes in the fourth quarter during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium. / Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Wide receivers at Ohio State University are expected to produce at a high level. It can almost be taken for granted by the masses. Don’t make that mistake with Egbuka. The 6-1, 205 pass catcher is as solid as they come but has some high-end traits. As a pure receiver, he stands out for creating space at the top of his routes and his understanding of coverages. Egbuka does an excellent job of finding and attacking space against zone coverage. He’s also quick enough to beat man coverage and does a good job tracking the ball. Egbuka is also as unselfish as they come, giving hellacious effort while blocking.

Two places he can present problems for Oregon defensive backs are his releases off the ball and his alignment versatility. The ability to line up wherever needed and get open quickly is Egbuka’s calling card.

Cornerback Denzel Burke:

Sep 28, 2024; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Burke (10) returns the ball after intercepting a pass in the second half at Spartan Stadium on Saturday. / Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Buckeyes cornerback Denzel Burke has been on the NFL radar for the better part of three years now. The 6-1,193 pound specimen has etched his name as one of the better defensive backs in school history. He’s playing the best football of his career so far this season. Burke’s size, instincts, and ball skills stand out when evaluating his tape. He’s a plus athlete that displays smooth transitions in and out of his breaks and pedals. He moves well laterally and opens up well from his hips. Above all, he’s a competitor.

Combine an elite competitor in his frame with those instincts and that ability, a damn good football player is the result. Burke has his shortcomings, and will certainly be put to the test against Oregon’s talented receiver room and scheme, but you will see him make plays come Saturday night.

Other Prospects To Watch:

Oct 5, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Quinshon Judkins (1) runs the ball against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the second quarter at Ohio Stadium on Saturday. / Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

EDGE Jack Sawyer

Cornerback Davison Igbinosun

Running back Quinshon Judkins

Safety Lathan Ransom

Running back TreVeyon Henderson

EDGE JT Tuimoloau

Offensive guard Donovan Jackson

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