Psalm 37:4 reads:

Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

This Bible verse means not envying the wicked when they seem to prosper, and by trusting in God and living righteously, He will provide.

It also just happens to be Bucs wide receiver Emeka Egbuka's go-to verse since being drafted, and one that he continued to reflect on throughout training camp and the preseason. As Tampa Bay's first-round pick, Egbuka has received the blessings that come with that – and will be asked to provide early and often as the No. 2 wide receiver behind Mike Evans.

Talking with Pewter Report on Wednesday, Emeka Egbuka talked about his faith and football ahead of his NFL regular-season debut.

Emeka Egbuka Delights In His Mission As A Faith-Led Bucs WR

The day after Emeka Egbuka was drafted by the Bucs as the 19th overall pick, he was down in Tampa Bay getting accustomed to the AdventHealth Training Center and holding his first press conference. Afterward, Egbuka sat down with the media and detailed just how big of a role his faith has played in putting him where he finds himself now.

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While supremely talented, Egbuka was not the most gifted wide receiver in a star-studded room at Ohio State. Instead, he found separation in his preparation and by utilizing his gifts.

"I think that's always been something I've recognized," Egbuka said back in April acknowledging his well-rounded game. "Ever since I was growing up, I was always never the fastest guy, could never jump the highest, all that kind of stuff. That's something where I had to find my separation elsewhere. I found my separation in my preparation; the way I prepare for the game and approach the game from a mental standpoint.

"[I would also say] my work ethic, outworking everybody around me. I have a lot of natural God-gifted ability and talent that I thank Him for every single day but I have put in a lot of work as well on my end so I think it's a testament to the places that hard work can get you."

Egbuka's hard work translated with the Buckeyes, as he finished his college career with 205 receptions for 2,868 yards and 24 touchdowns. Those numbers will always be recognized in the program's record books, as he is the school's record-holder in receptions, second in receiving yards, and seventh in receiving touchdowns.

If he replicates even part of that production this season, the Bucs' offense has found a dangerous complement to Mike Evans. While the numbers and recognition are something Egbuka is proud of, he learned during his college days to find meaning in something greater.

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

"It's been everything," Egbuka said about how faith has impacted his life. "I established my relationship with God my freshman year in college. Faith has always been something that has been implemented in my life since I was young, but it was never something that was really leading my life until my freshman year of college. I got an invite to church by two people who are now like my best friends. Xavier Johnson, who is [an NFL wide receiver], and Kamyrn Babb, who had [four] ACL tears, his story is crazy.

"They invited me to church, and I was like, 'Okay, it could be cool just to go to church, get some feel-good type of stuff.' That was far from what ended up happening to me. I encountered God in a supernatural way in church and since then it's been a 360. I've been walking with Him ever since; He's been the helm of my life."

Fast forward to late August, and Egbuka is once again asked about the verse – Psalm 37:4.

He mentions that he was gifted the verse on a wooden placard, serving as a daily reminder that he is living out his NFL dreams.

"That has been my favorite Bible verse for a long time, since my freshman year," Egbuka told Pewter Report. "I used to struggle a lot with my identity and the things that I was chasing. That verse was – 'Delight yourself in the Lord, take pleasure in Him, and He will give you the desires of your heart.' All the things that I was seeking, once I started to put my trust in Him and seek Him first, He kind of changed the stuff that I wanted for my own life, and my desires became His desires."

Emeka Egbuka Ready To Deliver As Bucs WR2 To Begin Season

The Bucs have chosen to carry seven wide receivers on the 53-man roster to begin the season. That does not include second-year wideout Jalen McMillan, and while Chris Godwin Jr. is one of the seven, he will not be playing in Week 1 as he looks to get back into football shape after his season-ending dislocated ankle injury last season.

Where does that leave Emeka Egbuka?

As the number two wide receiver behind the one and only Mike Evans. Knowing that McMillan and Godwin will not be out there reinforces just how important Egbuka will be on offense from the start. Just like God chose him to live out his purpose, so too is Tampa Bay placing its faith in his ability to fill a vacant role.

Bucs WRs Emeka Egbuka and Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

"They drafted me for a specific reason and specific purpose," Egbuka said. "They have all the belief in the world in me, which gives me a ton of confidence to be able to go out there and do what God created me to do."

Part of acclimating within the building has been interacting and building a rapport with quarterback Baker Mayfield, who is also someone who walks by faith and not afraid to share his testimony. The rookie is establishing a connection with him and everyone else.

"Trust is built over time, there's not a specific instance that causes it," Egbuka added on where his relationship with Mayfield stands. "It's just, his trust is going to continue to increase in me the more I do my job, and I am where I'm supposed to be on the field. I'm being accountable, that's not just for Baker but the rest of the team. That's for the coaches, knowing that they can trust me."

Bucs WR Emeka Egbuka – Photo by: USA Today

Offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard and wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon are the two coaches in Egbuka's ear the most as he settles in and finds his fit within the Bucs' offense.

How is it coming along for him?

"I feel like I fit great," Egbuka said. "They ask me to do a lot of things, which is exactly what I love. I want to be used in a ton of different ways. Get the ball to me in creative ways. Try to be Swiss-Army knife. I try to know every position as much as I can so they can just plug and play me and make it as stress-free for them as possible."

Grounded in his abilities and walking by faith, Psalm 37:4 will feel less like a promise and more like a playbook when Emeka Egbuka takes the field in Week 1 in Atlanta when he truly starts living out the desires of his heart.

And hopefully leading the Bucs to a season-opening win against the NFC South rival Falcons.