The Ohio State football program puts in some of the best players in the NFL Draft every single year. No one has more first-round picks than the Ohio State Buckeyes, and some of those first-round picks had excellent games in Week 1 of the NFL season, even if they didn't end up winning games.
Emeka Egbuka had perhaps the best game of any former Buckeye because he was involved in a game-winning touchdown. Egbuka's touchdown with 59 seconds left helped the Buccaneers beat the Falcons 23-20. He finished with four catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns.
Egbuka was the best rookie on Sunday afternoon and has already shown signs of being able to be a number one receiver for an NFL offense. He was the 19th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and he is already starting to look like a steal. A couple of other Buckeyes had nice days, too.
Several Ohio State football players have great games in NFL Week 1
Another former Buckeye receiver who had a good game in a winning effort was Marvin Harrison Jr. He led the Cardinals in receiving in their Week 1 victory, catching five passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. He looks like he's ready for a bounce-back campaign in his second year in the league.
Garrett Wilson was yet another receiver who was really good in Week 1. He led the Jets in receiving with seven catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. He continues to be the best offensive weapon that New York has, and he looks even better now that he has his college teammate throwing him passes.
Justin Fields had one of the best games of his career against the Steelers. He finished the game 16/22 for 218 yards and a touchdown through the air, and 12 carries for 48 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. The most important thing is that he didn't turn the ball over.
If the Jets had had a decent defense, they would have been able to win the game. Fields and Wilson helped New York put up 32 points. It was disappointing for them to lose that game after playing so well offensively.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba also had a good game in a losing effort. Quite frankly, he was the only good offensive player that the Seahawks had. He had nine catches for 124 yards as Seattle lost to the 49ers 17-13. Ohio State receivers just could not be stopped in Week 1.