Emeka Egbuka

ACQUIRED BY BUCS:

Selected by the Buccaneers as a first-round pick (19th overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft.

ACQUIRED BY BUCS:

Selected by the Buccaneers as a first-round pick (19th overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft.

AWARDS & ACCOLADES:

2025 PFWA All-Rookie Team selection.

2025 Sporting News Rookie of the Year.

2025 Offensive Rookie of the Month (September).

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

Has started 13-of-17 career games for the Buccaneers, bringing in 63 receptions for 938 yards and six receiving touchdowns. Has also logged two carries for nine yards.

Finished the 2025 campaign ranking fourth in team history in receiving yards by a rookie (938), fifth in team history in receptions by a rookie (63) and tied for fifth in team history in touchdown receptions by a rookie (6).

Among all rookies in 2025, Egbuka ranked second in receiving yards, tied for second in touchdown receptions, and fourth in receptions. Led all rookies in yards per reception (14.9).

Became the first player in NFL history to record 25+ receptions, 400+ receiving yards and 5+ touchdown receptions in a player's first five career games.

2025 HIGHLIGHTS:

Made his NFL debut in the Week 1 victory in Atlanta, playing 54-of-58 offensive snaps and bringing in four receptions for 67 yards and two receiving touchdowns — including the go-ahead score with 59 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Egbuka became the first player in the NFL to record multiple receiving touchdowns in his NFL debut since Jahan Dotson did so in 2022. He became just the second Buccaneer to ever accomplish the feat, joining TE Alex Smith in 2005.

Egbuka became the second player since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to record a game-winning touchdown reception with under a minute remaining in regulation or overtime in their first career game, joining Jacksonville's Ernest Wilford on Sept. 12, 2004

With his first score in Week 1, Egbuka became the first Tampa Bay rookie since Mike Williams in 2010 to score the team's first touchdown of a season.

In Week 1, generated a 143.8 passer rating when targeted — good for the third-best mark in the NFC (min. 4 targets).

In the Week 2 win at Houston, played 74-of-80 offensive snaps and brought in four receptions for 29 yards and one touchdown.

Egbuka's touchdown reception in Week 2 was his third of the season. His three touchdown receptions through two career games were the most in franchise history.

Through two weeks, Egbuka was tied for the NFL lead in receiving touchdowns, and had a 123.7 passer rating when targeted.

Started at wide receiver and played 46-of-72 offensive snaps in the Week 3 win over the New York Jets, leading Tampa Bay with six receptions and 85 receiving yards, both representing season highs.

Through Week 3, Egbuka had totaled 14 receptions for 181 yards and three receiving touchdowns, making him 1-of-2 players in the NFL to reach those figures at that point (also, Chicago's Rome Odunze at 15 receptions, 213 yards, four receiving touchdowns).

Egbuka became the fifth player since 1990 to reach those marks (14-181-3) in their first three career games played, joining Malik Nabers in 2024, Terry McLaurin in 2019, Roy Williams in 2004 and Randy Moss in 1998.

Through Week 3, Egbuka had generated a 133.1 passer rating when targeted­ — the second-highest mark among any wide receiver with at least 10 targets at that point.

Per Pro Football Focus, Egbuka was Tampa Bay's highest-graded offensive starter in the Week 3 win, producing an 84.3 overall grade.

In Week 4 vs. Philadelphia, started at wide receiver and played 64-of- 72 offensive snaps, bringing in four receptions for 101 yards and one touchdown. It marked his first career 100-yard performance.

Through four games, Egbuka logged 18 receptions for 282 yards and four touchdown grabs. His 282 receiving yards marked the most ever by a Buccaneers rookie in their first four games, surpassing the previous mark set by Michael Clayton (240 in 2004). Egbuka also established a new Buccaneers rookie record for touchdown receptions through a player's first four career games, surpassing the previous mark set by Mike Williams (three in 2010).

With his performance in Week 4, Egbuka became just the fourth rookie since the 1970 merger to record 14+ receptions, 280+ receiving yards and four-or-more receiving touchdowns in their first four career games played, and the first to do so since Detroit's Roy Williams in 2004.

Through four weeks, Egbuka's 128.0 passer rating when targeted ranked second in the NFL among wide receivers with at least 25 targets, trailing only Detroit's Amon-Ra St. Brown (133.2).

Egbuka's four touchdown receptions through Week 4 were tied for the third- most in the NFL.

Returned to his hometown Seattle-area in the Week 5 win over the Seahawks, starting at wide receiver and playing 52-of-61 offensive snaps. Finished with a then-career-best 163 receiving yards on seven receptions with one touchdown.

Egbuka's touchdown grab in Week 5 was his fifth of the season, tying him for the eighth-most by any player in

their first five career games since the 1970 merger, and establishing a new Buccaneers record.

Generated a perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeted in Week 5, making him one of just two wide receivers in the NFL at the time to post a perfect passer rating on seven-or-more targets in a single game in the 2025 season.

With back-to-back 100-yard performances across Weeks 4-5, Egbuka became the sixth rookie wide receiver since 2020 to record such a feat, joining Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Puka Nacua, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Brian Thomas Jr.

Became 1-of-3 players since 1985 with 400+ receiving yards and five-or-more receiving touchdowns in their first five career games, joining Ja'Marr Chase (2021), Terry McLaurin (2019) and Randy Moss (1998).

Became the first player in NFL history to amass 25+ receptions, 400+ receiving yards and five-or-more touchdowns in their first five career games.

Became the third rookie in franchise history to surpass 150 receiving yards in a game, joining Mark Carrier in 1987 and Mike Evans in 2014. Joined Evans as the only rookies in Buccaneers history to surpass 100 receiving yards in consecutive games.

Through Week 5, Egbuka ranked tied for second in the NFL in receiving touchdowns (5), fourth in receiving yards (445), and fourth in yards per reception (17.8).

Among all players with 25+ targets through Week 5, Egbuka's 145.3 passer rating when targeted led the NFL.

Started at wide receiver in the Week 6 win over the 49ers, playing 28-of-53 offensive snaps and bringing in two receptions for 24 yards before leaving with injury.

In Week 7 at Detroit, played 52-of- 69 offensive snaps, bringing in four receptions for 58 yards.

Through Week 7, Egbuka led all rookie receivers in receiving yards (527), receptions (31) and receiving touchdowns (five).

Started at wide receiver in the Week 8 win at New Orleans, playing 51-of-58 offensive snaps and hauling in three receptions for 35 yards.

In Week 10 vs. New England, started at wide receiver and played 61-of-69 offensive snaps, finishing with a team-high 115 receiving yards across six receptions, with one score.

Egbuka's 115 yards in Week 10 marked his third 100-yard performance of the season, tied for the fourth-most by any player in 2025 at the time. His three games with 100+ receiving yards are tied (with Ja'Marr Chase in 2021) for the third-most by a rookie wide receiver through the first 10 Weeks of a season since 2016, trailing only Puka Nacua (4 in 2021) and Justin Jefferson (4 in 2020).

With his touchdown catch in Week 10, Egbuka tied Mike Evans (7 in 2014) for the most receiving touchdowns by a Buccaneers player in their first nine career games, and tied O.J. Howard (2017) for the sixth-most touchdown receptions by a rookie in franchise history. He also surpassed Timothy Wright (571 in 2013) and Horace Copeland (633 in 1993) for the sixth- most and fifth-most receiving yards by a rookie in franchise history, respectively.

With his performance in Week 10, Egbuka became one-of-four players since 1971 to record 40+ receptions and average at least 16.5 yards per reception through their first nine career games, joining Ja'Marr Chase in 2021, Justin Jefferson in 2020, and Mike Evans in 2014.

Through 10 Weeks, Egbuka ranked ninth in the NFL in receiving yards (677), tied for fourth in receiving touchdowns (six) and fourth in yards per catch (16.9). Started at wide receiver and played

66-of-70 offensive snaps in Week 11 at Buffalo, contributing four catches for 40 yards.

In Week 12 at the Los Angeles Rams, started at wide receiver and played 63- of-70 offensive snaps, bringing in three catches for 32 yards.

Through Week 12, Egbuka led all rookies in receiving touchdowns (six) and ranked second among all rookies in receiving yards (749).

Started at wide receiver in the Week 13 win over Arizona, playing 52-of-61 offensive snaps and bringing in a team-high four receptions for 42 yards.

Through Week 13, Egbuka ranked tied for first among all rookies in touchdown catches, second in receiving yards, and third in receptions.

Started at wide receiver in Week 14 vs. New Orleans, playing 65-of-74 offensive snaps and bringing in two catches for 15 yards.

In Week 15 vs. Atlanta, played 44-of-69 offensive snaps and recorded four catches for 64 yards. With 58 catches for 870 yards through 14 Weeks, Egbuka surpassed Lawrence Dawsey (55 in 1991) for the fifth-most receptions by a rookie in franchise history while also surpassing Dawsey (818 in 1991) for the fourth-most receiving yards by a rookie in franchise history.

Started at wide receiver in Week 16 at Carolina, playing 36-of-64 offensive snaps and bringing in one catch for 40 yards. His 40 receiving yards in Week 16 led all Tampa Bay receivers.

In Week 17 at Miami, played 39-of-67 offensive snaps and recorded three catches for 20 yards.

Played 39-of-67 offensive snaps in the Week 18 win over Carolina, bringing in one catch for eight yards.

COLLEGE:

Appeared in 50 career games across four seasons (2021-24) for The Ohio State University, amassing 205 receptions for 2,868 receiving yards and 24 receiving touchdowns.

Finished his time at Ohio State as the program's all-time record holder in receptions with 205. He also ranked second in program history with 2,868 receiving yards and seventh in program history with 24 receiving touchdowns.

Joined Marvin Harrison Jr. as the only players in Ohio State history to record multiple seasons with 1,000-or-more

receiving yards.

Was named a team captain as a senior in 2024, and led the Buckeyes to a victory in the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship.

As a senior in 2024, received third- team All-Big Ten honors after he recorded a team-leading and career-high 81 receptions for 1,011 receiving yards and a career-high-tying 10 receiving touchdowns.

During his junior season in 2023, was limited due to injury but appeared in 10 games and brought in 41 receptions for 515 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Received third-team All-Big Ten honors.

As a sophomore in 2022, earned second-team All-Big Ten recognition after he saw action in 13 games and logged 74 receptions for a career-high 1,151 yards and career-high-tying 10 receiving touchdowns.

Appeared in 11 games during his freshman campaign in 2021, bringing in nine receptions for 191 receiving yards.

PERSONAL:

Attended Steilacoom High School (Steilacoom, Wash.).

Majored in marketing while at Ohio State.

Was a consensus five-star recruit and was the 2019 Gatorade Player of the Year in Washington state.

Was a standout baseball player in high school, receiving several collegiate offers.

Is the son of Henry Egbuka and Rhonda Ogilvie. Stepfather is Eric Ogilvie.

Has one younger brother, Keanan, and one younger sister, Eva.