For Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka, he's transitioning from being a big fish in a little-ish pond at Ohio State to a small fish in a big pond in the NFL.
When rookies enter the building, depending on their character and demeanor, they are looking to make a name for themselves with highlight plays and everything in between as the offseason workouts kick off with the rookie mini-camp.
So Egbuka, being a top receiver in college and a first-round pick, could be forgiven for thinking he might be able to come in and hit his stride from the get-go.
But that's not how he's wired. He wants to work.
"Honestly, to do everything that's asked [of] me," Egbuka said on his rookie camp goal. "To do my job, as little mistakes as possible, to play fast, there's no really telling what could happen in rookie minicamp as far as how many passes you're going to get, how many reps you're going to get. So just every opportunity I have to make the most of every rep that I do get."
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka brushes off Oregon Ducks tackler in College Football Playoff Game.
Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka brushes off Oregon Ducks tackler in College Football Playoff Game.
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
That is the mentality the coaching staff and Bucs fans will love.
Yes, Emeka is a first-round talent, but he is self-aware enough to know that he is now starting at the bottom. Everything has to be earned. Every rep is important.
The former Buckeye receiver is a lock to make the final 53-man roster, but just because that is his future, doesn't mean he will be taking anything easy this offseason.
There's so much to learn with a new playbook, teammates and everything in between and Egbuka is determined to make the most of every rep, keep his game as clean as possible so that when training camp starts with the veterans, he hits the ground running.