Washington Huskies wide receiver Rome Odunze (1) catches a touchdown pass against Stanford Cardinal safety Jonathan McGill (2) during the third quarter at Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Rome Odunze WR Washington | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Rome Odunze WR Washington
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 02/16/2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.45 seconds (69%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 23.1 DOB: 06/02/2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | |
| Last Updated: 02/16/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2024 | |
| 40 time: 4.45 seconds (69%*) | |
| Age: 23.1 DOB: 06/02/2002 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 89.7 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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78% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 120.3 | |
| Hands: |
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87% |
| Short Receiving: |
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89% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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92% |
| Deep Threat: |
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93% |
| Blocking: |
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63% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
1st - Top 10
Overall Rank:
#10
Position rank:
#3
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| College Games: 38 College Snaps: 2104 | ||
ESPN RATING: 80/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 94/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cedric Tillman - Tennessee |
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83% |
| Andrei Iosivas - Princeton |
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82% |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba - Ohio State |
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78% |
Drafted: ROUND: 1 - Pick Number: 9 (CHI)
Draft Profile: Bio
Rome Odunze, a wide receiver who made his mark at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, flourished both on the football field and the track under the direction of head coach Kenny Sanchez. His athletic prowess earned him a 4-star rating from both ESPN and 247Sports, cementing his status as one of the top prospects in Nevada. This was further accentuated by being crowned the Gatorade Player of the Year in Nevada in 2019.Post high school, the allure of the gridiron saw Odunze being pursued by college football powerhouses like Alabama, Oklahoma, and Florida. Yet, it was the University of Washington that secured his commitment in August 2019, leading to his official enrollment in June 2020. As a Husky, his play has improved every year. His junior year in 2022 was particularly exceptional: 70 catches for 1,088 yards, an average of 15.5 yards per reception, 7 TDs, and an elite QB rating when targeted of124.9. This outstanding play didn't go unnoticed, garnering him accolades including 2022 Third-Team All-American (Associated Press, Pro Football Focus) and 2022 First-Team All-Pac-12 (Associated Press, Phil Steele).
2023 was amazing for Odunze as he improved on his '22 numbers by finishing the regular season with 1428 yards,13 TDs, and a QB rating when targeted of 120.8. This resulted in him winning a spot on the AP first team along with an array of other accolades
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Exceptional confidence - consistently attacks the ball and snatches it from the air, away from his frame.
- Made Bruce Feldman's Freaks List at number 58 - he said ""terrific high school sprinter at Vegas powerhouse Bishop Gorman who won the 4A state title in the 200 meters (21.25) and the 4×100 relay (41.36). This offseason, Odunze ran a 4.34 40, a 4.19 pro agility shuttle and also did 37.1 inches on the vertical and 10-1 in the broad jump.
- Displays remarkable body control, especially on near-sideline catches, demonstrating his adaptability and versatility as a receiver.
- Advanced route-running skills for his build; effectively sells vertical routes while fluidly changing direction to create separation.
- Has a knack for exploiting zone coverages; routinely finds and occupies open spaces, showcasing his on-field awareness.
- Imposing physical presence with a wide wingspan, giving him an expansive catch radius unmatched by many in his class.
- Demonstrates elite concentration and fast-twitch reactions, especially on challenging, off-balance catches.
- Smooth vertical receiver, exhibiting impressive ball-tracking skills and the ability to adjust mid-air to deep throws.
- Shows potential as a YAC threat; elusive in open space with notable patience setting up blocks after screen plays.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Struggles in hand combat at the LOS; tends to lean into finesse moves against press, making him susceptible to physical DBs who can jam him up and disrupt his release.
- While he's clocked impressive times in shorts, his game speed appears inconsistent; too often his separation stems from nuanced route adjustments and playing through contact, rather than pure burst off the line.
- Lacks the gritty edge at the catch point; despite his size, savvy DBs can bully through his frame and punch the ball out, impacting his catch-in-traffic efficiency.
- Has a raw toolkit off the line; for an X-receiver, he needs to bulk up, polish his releases, and harness more violent hands to stack and shed cornerbacks, ensuring clean breaks within the first five.
Scouting Report: Summary
Rome Odunze's athletic prowess can't be overstated. A nod to his athletic feats, he notched a spot at #58 on Feldman's Freaks List, but it's his high school exploits at Bishop Gorman that really put him on the map. There, he dominated the tracks, winning the 4A state title in the 200 meters and the 4×100 relay. His recent 4.34 in the 40 and a sharp 4.19 pro agility shuttle only affirm what we already know: the kid's got wheels.Still, for all his physical attributes, Odunze is a little raw as a prospect. His natural athleticism is off the charts, but he'll need to fine-tune the nuances of his game to truly shine in the NFL. Think of him as a sports car with immense horsepower, just requiring a bit more handling expertise.
With the right coaching, Odunze's ceiling is sky-high. He's not just another "burner"; he brings a unique blend of size, speed, and agility that can be a game-changer on Sundays. The challenge will be molding that raw talent into a polished NFL wideout, but given the tools he possesses, the rewards could be massive.
Rome Odunze percentiles vs other Wide Receivers (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
Rome Odunze Video Review
How other scouting services rate Rome Odunze (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
8.6
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
3.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.