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Emeka Egbuka: Mike Evans And Chris Godwin “Instrumental” In Development

October 9th, 2025

All smiles.

Joe is starting to get the same vibes again.

Back in training camp, every day Joe saw rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka make plays. Every day. Hell, it was maybe his fifth practice when Joe finally saw Egbuka drop a ball.

It got to the point Joe tried to calm down and quit (indirectly) gassing Egbuka. This guy is too good to be true, right? Let’s not jinx the kid.

Well, in the past five Bucs games, fans are seeing what Joe saw every day in training camp, even though Joe purposely tried to ramp down observations, though that’s a bit unethical.

(Joe can just hear his very first editor in college scolding for this, as he used to tell Joe, “Write what you see.”)

So the whole NFL now knows what Joe was seeing and Bucs types, from AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht down to Baker Mayfield, were saying ever since underwear football: Egbuka has the goods. He’s the real deal.

Yesterday, Egbuka was on the “Pat McAfee Show.” There, former Bucs offensive lineman and former Bucs assistant coach A.Q. Shipley was in studio. He asked Egbuka how much Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have helped him transition from Ohio State.

“It’s been super instrumental in my success,” Egbuka said. “Obviously, part of the reason I was the first round pick is because of my natural talent and my ability that God gave me. But [being ready for the NFL is] just the confidence that [Evans and Godwin] put into me, just really on the mental side of things, just making sure I know my job.

“They always have an open ear for me to ask any questions. I’m a big question-asker, so I probably annoy them with how much I ask.

“But they’re always ready to answer and give me the real and, you know, they just pump so much confidence into me.”

Then, Egbuka said Evans is sort of like a football big brother.

“Mike is a dude who’s constantly in my ear telling me, “You know, you were built for this. You can do this. You were made for this. Like you’re that guy.’

“Just having someone like that, a Hall of Famer who believes in you to that type of level, just makes you go out on the field and really, you know, ball out and do what you were made to do.”

McAfee then lauded the Bucs culture. He’s impressed that a Hall of Fame player and Bucs legend like Evans has so little ego he will go out of his way to help a teammate. That’s no always the case, McAfee hinted, and he said that demonstrates why the Bucs are a quality team and organization.

Joe cannot wait for Evans and Godwin to get healthy and get on the field with Egbuka. Then, this Bucs offense will be cooking with gas (or, if you prefer, mesquite or oak).

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10 Responses to “Emeka Egbuka: Mike Evans And Chris Godwin “Instrumental” In Development”

  1. Guzzie55 Says:
    October 9th, 2025 at 6:23 am

    I’m more excited to see when we get JMc back in the fold, we won’t be cooking with gas, we will be cooking with a nuclear powered blowtorch

  2. TBBucFan Says:
    October 9th, 2025 at 6:24 am

    Mesquite is overrated. Oak is solid. Hickory, Joe, hickory. Lol.

  3. Bucsfan Says:
    October 9th, 2025 at 6:26 am

    There are many reasons ME13 is my all time favorite Buccaneer and this is just another. Hey Joe what is your hunch on when we see Jalen McMillan back on the field? It is interesying how nobody mentions McMillan being unavailable has certainly done more to propel EE than anything except his talent.
    There is no narrowed-down date for McMillan. Too soon. Neck’s are tricky. –Joe

  4. James west Says:
    October 9th, 2025 at 7:12 am

    Great pick, great receiver, probably WR 1 with Evans returning, love Mike but I don’t think he will get his thousand yards this year, feed the hot hand that said, the defense has got to be fixed, pull the trigger, go get Crosby, we have to get the QB on the ground, if Todd Bowels doesn’t see that lack in the D well it could be one and done in the playoffs anybody remember the Washington game?

  5. VOT Says:
    October 9th, 2025 at 7:27 am

    The GM picks OL and WR better than anyone in the business

  6. StormyInFl Says:
    October 9th, 2025 at 8:31 am

    No one has mentioned this goes back to Vincent Jackson.

    He set the precedent on this team by treating Mike the same way Mike has now paid it forward to both Chris and Emeka.

    RIP – VJax, and thanks for establishing one of the best receiver rooms in the league. One strong enough to survive cancers like djax and AB.

  7. Jeffrey Becker Says:
    October 9th, 2025 at 9:01 am

    and none had 25 catches?

  8. heyjude Says:
    October 9th, 2025 at 9:12 am

    Thank you for sharing Meka’s interview. What a wonderful kid he is. So humble. Mike and Chris are the heart and soul, for sure.

  9. Obvious One Says:
    October 9th, 2025 at 3:00 pm

    Hmmmm.

    I DO NOT like this hero worship this early for this kid. He IS NOT as humble as Mike or Chris… Literally his second sentence is an Homage to himself… NOT A GOOD LOOK… I forsee trouble.

    Go back and listen and you’ll hear the same patting himself on the back that I did… “Second Sentence”….

  10. LakelandSteve Says:
    October 9th, 2025 at 7:23 pm

    It reminds me of when Evans first came into the league and Vincent Jackson was mentoring him. I guess things have come full circle for Evans but just like way back then watching this rookie Mike Evans play, you could tell this guy could be real special. It’s the same watching Egbuka, he’s young but he is special and if he stays healthy could have a similar career as Evans. It’s looks like Jason Licht knew what he was doing.

 

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