Rome Odunze 2024 Dynasty Rookie Profile
Rome Odunze 2024 Dynasty Rookie Draft Profile
Position: WR
School: Washington
Class: RS-Junior
Date of Birth: June 3, 2002
Height: 6-3 Weight: 215 lbs
Athletic Testing
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Bio
Rome Odunze dominated in both football and track & field at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. He took home a state title in the 200 meters and the 4×100 relay. On the football field, Odunze was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Nevada in 2019 after posting a senior season of 54 receptions, 1,222 receiving yards, and 15 touchdowns. He finished his high school career with more than 120 receptions and nearly 2,700 receiving yards while scoring 31 times. Odunze was a four-star recruit in the 2020 class. He received offers from a number of prestigious programs, including Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Florida, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and others.
Odunze chose Washington where he played in all four games during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He caught six balls for 72 yards. He maintained his freshman status in 2021, starting seven-of-nine games and finishing with 41 receptions for 415 yards and four touchdowns. Odunze took a big leap in 2022. In 12 games, he caught 75 passes for 1,145 yards and seven touchdowns. It was enough to earn first-team All-PAC-12 and third-team All-American.
Odunze added significant weight ahead of the 2023 season in an effort to improve his physicality. That helped him reach 1,553 yards and 13 touchdowns on 87 receptions. He also scored a rushing touchdown and took a punt back 83 yards for another. Odunze was a Biletnikoff Award finalist for best wide receiver in the nation. He was also named first-team All-PAC-12 for the second-straight season.
College Stats
Rome Odunze College Stats Courtesy of sports-reference
Positives
+Route running
+Size
+Athleticism
+Agility/change of direction
+YAC
+Body Control
+Contested catches
+Catch radius
+Handles physicality/contact well downfield & at the catch point
+Alignment versatility
+6.1 receptions per game
+2.86 yards per team pass attempt
+33% Dominator rating
+Age 19 breakout
+1 Punt return TD & 1 rushing TD in 2023
Negatives
-Lacks some explosion at the line of scrimmage
-Ability to win consistently vs physical press coverage is still a work in progress
-Can improve release tactics
Highlight Reel
Archetype: Prototype Alpha
NFL Comp: Drake London
Draft Projection: Top-15
Bottom Line:
Rome Odunze is one of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2024 draft class. He checks just about all the boxes from size, play strength, and athleticism, to route-running and football IQ. Odunze is a smooth operator who uses his full arsenal of tools to win in a variety of ways. He is especially dominant in contested catch situations as he can use his size, strength, and tracking ability to win against the most physical defenders. He could use some work off the line against press coverage but overall his route running is about as good as anyone in college football. Then, once he has the ball in his hands he is difficult to bring down on first contact.
Odunze projects as a prototypical alpha WR1 at the NFL level. He will be a team’s x-receiver while also possessing the versatility to move around the formation and contribute in a number of ways. Odunze will likely be the third wideout off the board on draft weekend and is likely to hear his name among the top-15 picks. He’s locked-in as a top-5 selection in dynasty rookie drafts with about as high a ceiling as it gets.
Resources: DLF, PlayerProfiler, PFN, PFF, TDN
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