Odunze Continues To Assert Himself As One of Nation's Best
Through two games, Washington's receiving corps has lived up to the billing as one of the best in the nation. Surrounded by Jalen McMillan, Ja'Lynn Polk and a host of other talent, Rome Odunze has showed why NFL scouts have given him a first-round grade.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound junior receiver has put together a solid first two games, recording 14 receptions for 239 yards and two touchdowns. He also added a 14-yard rushing touchdown against Tulsa, becoming the third Husky receiver to find the end zone on a carry this season.
His 239 receiving yards are good for the ninth most across college football and his 253 yards from scrimmage are the eighth most from a receiver so far this season. Odunze also isn't far off the team lead in total touchdowns, trailing McMillan by one score.
Even though Odunze, who was named a preseason first-team AP All-America choice has had a great start to the year, there's still more to be desired.
He dropped two passes against the Golden Hurricane and said he knows exactly what to do in order to put them behind him when the Huskies head to East Lansing to take on Michigan State.
"I immediately knew I was just trying to get up the field before I made the play," Odunze said during a media availability session on Tuesday.
"I was trying to get my [yards after catch] yards and trying to get up the field and make an extraordinary play, but first you have to make the initial play to be able to do all that afterward. I knew on both times that it happened exactly what I was doing wrong. ... After the second one, I was like, 'Ok, I got to lock in and make the catch before I try to get more.' "
Odunze has put in a lot of work to turn himself into a top-flight NFL prospect among a star-studded draft class that includes Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, Florida State's Johnny Wilson, Texas' Xavier Worthy and many more.
The former four-star football prospect also was a track star at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas and displayed his high-end speed over the summer. UW coach Kalen DeBoer told OnMontlake.com's Christian Caple that Odunze clocked in at 4.34 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
NFL scouts have said the biggest area of improvement they want to see from Odunze is his physicality in contested catch situations. Not only did Odunze score his first touchdown of the year on a contested fade route, but he's also shown off his versatility.
Odunze lined up as a fullback in the I-formation against Tulsa before sneaking out into the flat for his touchdown grab but he also has been asked to be a lead blocker on both pass and run plays.
Against the Golden Hurricane, he was out in front blocking on Ja'Lynn Polk's 27-yard rushing score and Jalen McMillan's 35-yard bubble screen. With everything he brings to the game, it's no surprise he's turned into one of quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s favorite targets.
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