SEATTLE — As homecomings go, it was all hugs and handshakes for Emeka Egbuka on Sunday. Playing his first NFL game near his hometown of Tacoma, Washington, the Bucs rookie receiver had seven catches for a career-high 163 yards and made a house call with a 20-yard touchdown reception from Baker Mayfield.
SEATTLE — As homecomings go, it was all hugs and handshakes for Emeka Egbuka on Sunday.
Playing his first NFL game near his hometown of Tacoma, Washington, the Bucs rookie receiver had seven catches for a career-high 163 yards and made a house call with a 20-yard touchdown reception from Baker Mayfield.
“Emeka had a homecoming (Sunday),” coach Todd Bowles said. ”He continues to amaze and compete and do the things that everybody has seen him do like he did in college, and again he was outstanding."
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Bowles was asked if he’s ever seen a rookie receiver as polished as Egbuka. “Not this early, I have not,” the coach said.
Here’s how advanced Egbuka is in his first NFL season. Before the game, he and quarterback Baker Mayfield discussed a coverage the Seahawks like to play when an opponent is behind the sticks and needs a chunk play for a first down.
Trailing 14-13 midway through the third quarter, the Bucs faced third and 15 at the Seattle 20-yard line. They knew the cornerback would be expecting help, so Mayfield told Egbuka to run by both him and the safety.
“It’s something we talked about pregame in the locker room,” Mayfield said. ”It was third and a little bit extra-long looks. They have a certain coverage that, ‘Hey, if they run it, take the top off, because the corner is expecting help,’ and he did just that. The protection was unbelievable on that. I was able to triple-hitch it.
“‘Mek’ is just a smart football player, taking things we talked about in the locker room before and take it to the game field and be able to react and do it well.”
Egbuka, who then caught a two-point conversion pass to put Tampa Bay ahead 21-14, was surprised by how well the touchdown play worked.
“It was the exact way we drew it up,” he said. ”It’s kind of rare to have that happen in the NFL. There’s not oftentimes it happens the way you draw it up, but it did in that case."
Egbuka was fired up to play the Seahawks, and it showed. With 25 receptions, 445 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns for the season, the first-round pick now owns the franchise record in each category for the most by a player through their first five career games.
“It’s his intelligence. It’s his willingness to work. He’s just one of them guys,” Bowles said. “He has the entire make-up and the entire package, and that’s hard to get and hard to be as a rookie.”
Returning home suited Egbuka, who had a 57-yard reception to the Seattle 2 on the next drive to set up a Bucky Irving touchdown run. Setting a career best this early in his first NFL season was just a bonus.
“I’m very proud to be from here, the Pacific Northwest, born and raised,” he said. ”All my family is still here, so I had a lot of people at my game. ... It just means a lot. Just a homecoming for us, and to be able to have that performance was great."
What were his expectations this early in his NFL career?
“I don’t enter any seasons of my life with too many expectations when it comes to statistics,” Egbuka said. ”I’m just trying to honor and glorify God. Be obedient to whatever he’s called me to.
“He has me in Tampa for a reason. and that reason is bigger than football, so I’m trying to use my platform to be able to impact people whenever I can and give glory to him whenever success comes my way, and when they don’t still praise him all the more.”
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Category: General Sports
