By Danielle Daniels
10/7/2024
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Following a career day in Saturday’s 35-7 win over Iowa, Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has been named the Big Ten’s co-Offensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced today.
Egbuka caught a career-best three touchdown passes in the win and matched his career high with nine receptions. His first touchdown, which came on a 14-yard pass from Will Howard, gave the Buckeyes a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. He’d add two more scores – from 15 and three yards out, respectively – in the second half as the Buckeyes scored 21 third-quarter points to put the game away.
Egbuka’s big day also helped him climb the career charts in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He now stands in a tie for 10th place in career TD receptions (19), 10th in receiving yards (2,290) and seventh in receptions (154). Egbuka needs 48 receptions to break K.J. Hill’s record of 201 (2016-19) and is 608 yards shy of Michael Jenkins’ (2000-03) yardage record.
Through five games, Egbuka is third in the Big Ten in receiving yards per game (86.6), fifth in receptions per game (6.0) and fourth in touchdowns (five). His 30 receptions are the most on the team and he has at least one TD catch in each of the last three games.
Howard Honored for Performance vs. Iowa
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard has been named to the Davey O’Brien Award’s Great 8 for his performance in Ohio State’s win on Saturday over Iowa. The organization will announce the National Quarterback of the Week on Tuesday at 1 p.m. EST.
Howard led an Ohio State offense that scored 28 second-half points against Iowa enroute to a 35-7 win over the Hawkeyes. Howard completed 21 of 25 passes for 209 yards and accounted for five total touchdowns – four passing and one rushing.
Thanks in part to Howard’s play, the Buckeyes became the first team to amass 400 yards of total offense against Iowa’s defense since the 2021 Big Ten Championship Game – a stretch of 32 consecutive games. Howard accounted for 237 of those yards – 209 passing and 28 rushing.
Over his first five starts, Howard is completing 71.5 percent of his passes for 1,248 yards and 12 touchdowns. His efficiency rating of 178.0 is eighth-best nationally.
The Buckeyes, who rose to No. 2 in the latest Associate Press poll, are on the road Saturday when they head to Eugene, Ore. to face third-ranked Oregon. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. EST on NBC.
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