Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka Will Return for 2024 Season, Forego NFL Draft

Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka announced Thursday he's returning to the Buckeyes for the 2024 season.

The junior finished this year with 41 receptions for 515 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games. He was the No. 27 overall player and sixth-best wideout in Bleacher Report's 2024 big board.

Being a projected first-round pick or at worst early Day 2 selection can be a tough opportunity to turn down. The dawn of the NIL era has at least given players in Egbuka's position more to think about.

On3 projects his NIL value at $318,000, which is much less than he'd earn as an NFL rookie, but that's not nothing.

Egbuka is probably playing the long game as well.

While Marvin Harrison Jr. hasn't officially made his decision, he opted out of the Cotton Bowl and is widely considered a top-five pick. Harrison donning scarlet and gray in 2024 would be a genuine shock.

Assuming Harrison is on the way out, Egbuka is poised to become the No. 1 receiver in Ohio State's aerial attack, even with 5-star receiver Jeremiah Smith arriving.

The Washington native had 1,151 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions as a sophomore in 2022. As long as he stays healthy, he could plausibly go beyond those numbers if his role increases slightly.

Wrapping up his college career with another 1,000-yard campaign could not only cement Egbuka as a first-round talent in 2025 but also move him higher up draft boards than his present position.