Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka Excited That QB Battle Has Been Settled
Several Ohio State players and coaches took the podium on Wednesday afternoon to speak to the media as Week 3's matchup with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers approaches. Perhaps the most notable of those to answer questions was junior receiver Emeka Egbuka, who most NFL Draft experts consider a surefire first round pick.
The wideout had a breakout season last fall and has started 2023 off on the right foot, recording 94 yards and a touchdown on five catches in the Buckeyes' victory over Youngstown State this past Saturday.
Now that Ohio State head coach Ryan Day has officially named junior Kyle McCord as the team's starting quarterback for the year, Egbuka thinks this offense will begin to improve even more.
“It’s good to have your dude and know who you’re going to be rocking with for most of the snaps this season," said Egbuka. "But our number two guy [Devin Brown] is ready as well. We have full confidence in him and the guy that’s taking the number one reps. Both are great talents and we’re excited to be moving forward.”
The continuity of having a bonafide No. 1 QB is all-important for any team, especially a squad hoping to finish ranked in the College Football Playoff. There's no doubt that both McCord and backup Devin Brown both have talent, but switching back and forth between the two is guaranteed to put a hitch in OSU's offensive giddy-up.
With electrifying playmakers like Egbuka and his fellow wideout Marvin Harrison Jr., the Buckeyes need to give themselves the best chance to win right now, and that starts with having a reliable man under center taking a large majority of the snaps.
“Yeah, it does [help getting more reps with McCord]. We get reps with him, but you’d be surprised at the limited amount of reps that you do get in a week. If you calculate all that up, it’s not that many" noted Egbuka. "You might not get every look you want every single time, so being a student of the game and taking more mental reps is a huge part of it as well."
Egbuka and company may not get every look they want every time, but they'll definitely get a lot more looks at how the game will flow with McCord running the show full-time. The junior quarterback knows that the Buckeyes have some of the best, if not the best, skill players in the country. Now, all he has to do is get them the ball.
