Buccaneers’ Emeka Egbuka Draws Attention With GPA Amid Rookie Season

Fans online were quick to react to the post.

"Ooga booga booga dude is smart," said one user.

"Geek ," another fan commented.

"Buk has always been that dude!! O-H!" one other user replied.

"Should’ve been a Bronco ," another fan remarked.

"Proper naij," one other commenter responded.

"Nerd," another fan replied.

Adding to Egbuka’s academic excellence, his NFL debut was historic.

He caught four passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns, including a 25-yard game-winner with 59 seconds remaining, a feat matched by only one other player since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

His first score came on a 30-yard strike in the second quarter, giving Tampa Bay its first lead of the game and he also added a nine-yard rush and played 54 offensive snaps, filling in for injured starters Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the game-winning throw from Baker Mayfield had just a 24.9% completion probability, making it his least likely successful pass of the day.

He was the only rookie receiver in Week 1 to score twice and his performance earned him a nomination for ESPN’s "Himmy" Award for top player of the week.

At Steilacoom High School, Egbuka maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA while excelling in football, baseball and track. He was named Washington’s Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior and graduated as one of the top student-athletes in the state.

His mother, a three-sport athlete and valedictorian, played volleyball at Saint Martin’s University, while his father, originally from Nigeria, was invited to try out for the Nigerian junior national soccer team before immigrating to the U.S.

Both of Egbuka’s parents earned master’s degrees, with Egbuka's upbringing highlighting why he's already emerged as one of the NFL’s most disciplined and prepared rookies.