On April 27, 2017, John Ross was chosen within the first spherical of the NFL draft. He was picked ninth general by the Cincinnati Bengals, changing into the third large receiver in Washington program historical past to be taken within the first spherical.
Now, the Huskies have a fourth.
Extensive receiver Rome Odunze was drafted by the Bears with the No. 9 decide Thursday, becoming a member of Ross, Reggie Williams and Dave Williams as first-round receivers from UW. The Las Vegas native was additionally the second Washington participant chosen within the 2024 NFL draft.
Odunze’s four-year tenure at Washington would possibly’ve ended prematurely at varied phases. He was a extremely touted recruit out of Las Vegas preps powerhouse Bishop Gorman. His choice to decide on the Huskies represented an enormous win for then-wide receivers coach Junior Adams.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound wideout earned his first begin in opposition to Stanford on Dec. 5, 2020, and completed his true freshman season with six catches and 72 yards in a COVID-impacted marketing campaign. Odunze’s progress continued in 2021. He hauled in 41 catches for 415 yards and 4 touchdowns, regardless of coach Jimmy Lake’s offense emphasizing the run recreation.
Lake was relieved as coach earlier than the 2021 season ended, and Odunze entered the switch portal. He finally selected to remain at Washington beneath the brand new regime of Kalen DeBoer, but in addition misplaced Adams, who left for a similar place at Oregon regardless of initially pledging to remain.
Odunze’s 2022 season was a revelation. Below the tutelage of Adams’ successor JaMarcus Sheppard and paired with quarterback Michael Penix Junior, Odunze emerged as one of many high receivers within the nation.
He caught 75 passes for a conference-best 1,145 yards. Odunze joined Reggie Williams as the one UW large receivers to register four-consecutive 100-yard receiving video games on Oct. 15 in opposition to Arizona, making 9 catches for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Odunze and fellow large receiver Jalen McMillan grew to become the primary Washington teammates to every have 1,000-yard receiving seasons in the identical marketing campaign, a feat Odunze repeated in 2023 with Ja’Lynn Polk.
If 2022 was Odunze’s breakout yr, 2023 established him as probably the greatest receivers in school soccer. He led the nation with 1,640 yards —- additionally a UW single-season report —- and was named a Biletnikoff Award finalist. He completed his profession rating second all-time in receiving yards in program historical past behind Reggie Williams. Odunze is tied for third in all-time receiving touchdowns with Dante Pettis, behind solely Mario Bailey and Reggie Williams.
As Washington’s bid for an ideal common season continued, Odunze made huge play after huge play to maintain the Huskies dream season alive. His landing catch with 1:38 remaining proved to be the game-winning rating in opposition to Oregon on Oct. 14. His 33-yard landing in opposition to Utah on Nov. 11 was the one landing both staff scored within the second half.
In opposition to Oregon State within the rain on Nov. 18, Odunze transformed a primary all the way down to seal the sport on a back-shoulder throw by Penix. He iced the Apple Cup per week later, taking a dangerous reverse on fourth-and-short 23 yards for a primary all the way down to preserve Washington’s Faculty Soccer Playoff hopes alive and finish Washington State’s bid for bowl eligibility.
Odunze’s efforts caught the eyes of NFL scouts, too. He shortly emerged as one of many high non-quarterback prospects within the 2023 draft, and carried out effectively sufficient on the mix that he was capable of sit out professional day.
“This draft course of, it’s been enjoyable,” Odunze mentioned March 28. “I imply it’s an extended course of, it’s one thing that takes a very long time however to go up with it with my guys (McMillan and Polk), we’re all going by means of it. So it’s enjoyable to have the ability to see us all undergo the steps of it. Simply having fun with it.
“That is the moments we dreamed of being in, so to have the ability to undergo it myself after which alongside all my teammates, it’s a blessing.”
