Megan.Husslein
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Broken Records: Emeka Egbuka will break Ohio State career receiving yard mark
Megan.Husslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
He would need a 1,000-yard season in 2024.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about records, the ones that have been broken, the ones that could be broken, and the ones that will never be broken. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Broken Records” articles here.
This season’s Ohio State wide receivers and broken records are shaping up to be a nice pair. The expectations placed on this position group are sky high, and for good reason. One broken record I want to focus on in particular is Emeka Egbuka breaking the all-time career receiving yard mark at Ohio State.
It definitely will not be easy for Egbuka. Michael Jenkins is the current record holder, as his career from 2000-03 netted him 2,898 receiving yards. Meanwhile, Egbuka has 1,857 yards through three seasons, good for 17th all-time.
I will do the math for you so you don’t have to. He will need 1,041 yards to tie Jenkins’ record. This is definitely possible for him, considering he put up 1,151 receiving yards in 2022, when both him and Marvin Harrison Jr. recorded 1,000-yard seasons that year. Egbuka is just one of nine OSU receivers to have a 1,000-yard season.
Can he do it again?
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25504198/1820947503.jpg "Ohio State v Michigan")
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
In order to do so, he will NEED to stay healthy for every game this season. Last year, he missed three games with an ankle injury, and wasn’t able to play to his full potential the remainder of the season. As a result, he only had 515 yards for all of 2023.
So, let’s look at what he has going for him this season in order to break the record. He (should be) fully healthy. He is the leader of this WR room now that MHJ has gone pro, making him WR1. Egbuka would sometimes be overshadowed by Marv, but do not forget how lethal this man was in 2022. I expect to see the same type of season for him this year.
Egbuka’s biggest competition from breaking this mark? His own teammates.
The Ohio State wide receiver room is so flooded with talent, who knows how many targets he will get? Between Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss, Jeremiah Smith, etc., the wealth has to be spread. But, that is not to say that even with all of these guys on his team, he can’t have a high number of targets.
I have faith that new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has a game plan to ensure all of his receivers feel the love.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25504222/1793808184.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 18 Minnesota at Ohio State")
Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It will not be an easy record to break. Even if he doesn’t become the all-time leader, I could see him breaking into the top five. Chris Olave is currently in fifth place with 2,711 yards, so Egbuka would need 854 yards.
Personally, I hope Egbuka finishes his collegiate career with a 1,000-yard season. He deserves it, and obviously the team would greatly benefit, too. Here’s to hoping for a ‘2022 Egbuka’ in 2024!
Continue reading...
Megan.Husslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
He would need a 1,000-yard season in 2024.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about records, the ones that have been broken, the ones that could be broken, and the ones that will never be broken. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Broken Records” articles here.
This season’s Ohio State wide receivers and broken records are shaping up to be a nice pair. The expectations placed on this position group are sky high, and for good reason. One broken record I want to focus on in particular is Emeka Egbuka breaking the all-time career receiving yard mark at Ohio State.
It definitely will not be easy for Egbuka. Michael Jenkins is the current record holder, as his career from 2000-03 netted him 2,898 receiving yards. Meanwhile, Egbuka has 1,857 yards through three seasons, good for 17th all-time.
I will do the math for you so you don’t have to. He will need 1,041 yards to tie Jenkins’ record. This is definitely possible for him, considering he put up 1,151 receiving yards in 2022, when both him and Marvin Harrison Jr. recorded 1,000-yard seasons that year. Egbuka is just one of nine OSU receivers to have a 1,000-yard season.
Can he do it again?
In order to do so, he will NEED to stay healthy for every game this season. Last year, he missed three games with an ankle injury, and wasn’t able to play to his full potential the remainder of the season. As a result, he only had 515 yards for all of 2023.
So, let’s look at what he has going for him this season in order to break the record. He (should be) fully healthy. He is the leader of this WR room now that MHJ has gone pro, making him WR1. Egbuka would sometimes be overshadowed by Marv, but do not forget how lethal this man was in 2022. I expect to see the same type of season for him this year.
Egbuka’s biggest competition from breaking this mark? His own teammates.
The Ohio State wide receiver room is so flooded with talent, who knows how many targets he will get? Between Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss, Jeremiah Smith, etc., the wealth has to be spread. But, that is not to say that even with all of these guys on his team, he can’t have a high number of targets.
I have faith that new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has a game plan to ensure all of his receivers feel the love.
It will not be an easy record to break. Even if he doesn’t become the all-time leader, I could see him breaking into the top five. Chris Olave is currently in fifth place with 2,711 yards, so Egbuka would need 854 yards.
Personally, I hope Egbuka finishes his collegiate career with a 1,000-yard season. He deserves it, and obviously the team would greatly benefit, too. Here’s to hoping for a ‘2022 Egbuka’ in 2024!
Continue reading...