In 2003, Michael Jenkins achieved the Ohio State career receiving yards record with a total of 2,746 yards on 156 catches across three years. Jenkins was a standout player for the Buckeyes in the early 21st century and played a vital role in the 2002 BCS National Championship-winning team. Now, after 21 years, his record is on the brink of being surpassed.
Over time, several players including Chris Olave (2,711 yards, second highest), Marvin Harrison Jr. (2,613 yards, fourth highest), and Devin Smith (2,503 yards, fifth highest), among others, have approached Jenkins’ record. With a complete upcoming season, potentially spanning 16 games, Emeka Egbuka stands poised to claim the Ohio State receiving yards record for himself. As the 2024 season approaches, Egbuka is only 890 yards shy of breaking the record. Furthermore, if he achieves a new personal best with 77 receptions, he would surpass K.J. Hill for the most receptions as well.
Emeka Egbuka Can Break the Ohio State Receiving Yards Record in 2024
A Full Arsenal
The main obstacle standing in the way of Egbuka breaking the record could be the competition within Ohio State’s offense. It’s widely known that the team boasts a wealth of talent. Alongside Egbuka, the wide receiver corps includes potential standout freshman Jeremiah Smith, as well as several other highly-rated recruits such as Brandon Inniss and Carnell Tate.
Last season, Egbuka played alongside Harrison Jr. but faced setbacks due to injuries, resulting in a decline from his impressive 2022 performance. Had he maintained that level of success, breaking the record would have been much more achievable. It’s worth noting that Harrison Jr.’s performance in the NFL Draft and his presence at the Heisman Trophy ceremony were affected by the quality of quarterback play.
Despite the abundance of offensive weapons, opposing defenses won’t be able to focus solely on Egbuka. Ohio State’s offensive strategy, influenced by the Chip Kelly system, will heavily involve their talented running backs, thus creating opportunities in the passing game. Whether defenses choose to double-cover Egbuka or play man-to-man, he has demonstrated the ability to excel and find openings.
With the array of weapons available to quarterbacks like Will Howard, or any other potential starter, defenses will face a dilemma. Egbuka’s impressive 2022 season, alongside Harrison Jr., saw him rack up 74 receptions for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns when fully fit. With another talented receiving group and the prospect of improved quarterback play, Egbuka has a strong chance of setting a new receiving record for Ohio State.
Egbuka to This Point
Following a disappointing 2023 season, Egbuka made the decision to return for his senior year, which ultimately proved to be the right choice. After initially being touted as a mid-first-round prospect, he ended up being drafted on the second day of the NFL Draft. Despite this setback, Egbuka’s talent has been evident since his freshman year in 2019 when he appeared in 10 games and showcased his abilities with nine receptions for 191 yards, averaging 21.2 yards per catch.
His breakthrough came in 2022 when he stepped up to fill the void left by the injury-plagued Jaxon Smith-Njigba. At the start of that season, there were uncertainties surrounding the receiving corps, but Egbuka, alongside Harrison Jr., impressed, particularly in the Rose Bowl where they dismantled Utah’s defense. However, Smith-Njigba’s subsequent injury hindered the team’s expectations.
In Smith-Njigba’s absence, Egbuka excelled, achieving career-best stats across the board and earning recognition as one of the top receivers in the game, despite playing as Ohio State’s second option. This performance fueled first-round draft predictions for 2023.
Unfortunately, injuries plagued Egbuka’s 2023 season, limiting him to just 10 games where he amassed 41 receptions, 515 yards, and five touchdowns. His effectiveness was notably reduced, possibly influenced by the transition from C.J. Stroud to Kyle McCord at quarterback.
Circle the Northwestern Game
As the seasoned veteran in the huddle heading into the 2024 season, Egbuka is expected to lead the Ohio State offense as their top receiver. While it’s possible that Smith may also have a significant impact, Egbuka has already demonstrated his ability to produce impressive numbers akin to those of Harrison Jr.
For Egbuka to break the Ohio State receiving yards record, he’ll need to replicate his stellar 2022 season, during which he averaged 88.5 yards per game. Throughout his career thus far, Egbuka has averaged 56.3 yards per game, taking into account his limited involvement in his freshman year.
Over the past two seasons, Egbuka has maintained an average of 72.4 yards per game. If he continues at this pace in the upcoming season, it would take him slightly over 12 games to reach the 890-yard mark.
Assuming good health and a potential improvement at quarterback, there’s reason to believe that Egbuka could break the record in even fewer games. The first four matchups of Ohio State’s schedule offer ample opportunities for Egbuka to accumulate yardage, with contests against two MAC teams, Marshall, and Michigan State. While facing Iowa presents an offensive challenge, especially under Kirk Ferentz’s tenure, navigating through the Big Ten slate will pose its own difficulties.
If Egbuka can replicate his 2022 performance, he could potentially break the record in just over 10 games. The tenth game, set at Northwestern (at Wrigley Field), provides a realistic opportunity for him to surpass his averages and achieve the milestone against the Wildcats.
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