One of the crucial pieces of Washington’s College Playoff run, Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze will look to bring his incredible production to the next level as he enters the 2024 NFL Draft.
Here is everything you need to know about the Huskies’ top playmaker:
Vitals
Height: 6-3
Weight: 215
Class: Junior
Strengths
One of the top weapons in all of college football over the past two seasons, Rome Odunze has shown significant growth at his position during his time at Washington and has established himself as a potential game-breaking ‘X’ receiver at the NFL level.
Possessing the ideal height-weight-speed combination for a top receiving threat, Odunze pulled it all together to become a dominant receiver for the Huskies. Odunze greatly improved his ability to break off of press coverage this last season and has excellent size and strength to be a real nightmare in one on one coverage. Odunze is excellent in contested catch situations, often muscling through defenders and using his play strength, frame and athleticism to win those 50-50 balls. An intelligent and fluid route runner, Odunze understands how defensive backs are playing him and how to adjust on a route to put himself in optimal positions, making him one of the top route-runners in this very stacked class. Odunze’s strength and speed combination aid him well after the catch as well, becoming a wrecking ball and churning out extra yards after contact, consistently breaking arm tackles and creating chunk plays.
Odunze proved to be unstoppable in his connection with Michael Penix Jr. this season as he put up quite an incredible season. With 92 catches, 1,640 yards, and 13 touchdowns on the year, Odunze was masterful playmaker who routinely dominated corners at the college level and constantly made crucial plays for the Huskies.
Weaknesses
While Odunze did improve on his ability to break press coverage, defenders who can match his body type and physicality can still jam him up on occasion. Odunze has the natural disadvantage of being less twitched up then other guys in this class, and could have early struggles at the next level breaking up when teams eventually look to bracket him. Odunze should grow naturally in both of these areas and is one of the cleanest prospects in this class.
Projection
When NFL teams do film study of Odunze they are going to see him constantly making plays in situations where his team desperately needed it. Odunze is a consistently dominant playmaker who has shown rapid development and an ability to play at the next level. Defenses are going to have a hard time leaving Odunze in one on one coverage early in his career, and he could be a big play machine from day one.
Projection: Top 10
