Rome Odunze WR Washington: Scouting Report

Height: 6’3

Weight: 215

Overall

Rome Odunze is a dynamic receiver in Washington’s balanced offense. In his 4 seasons with the Huskies, he has played in 27 games, starting 21 of them. He was extremely productive these past 2 seasons and played a big role in Washington earning a spot in the College Football Playoff this past year.

Pass Game

Odunze is nuanced with his route running. He has the ability to hesitate off the line of scrimmage to let routes around him develop while also having the burst to get off the line quickly and get the defense on their heels. He has excellent speed and acceleration along with quick cuts at the top of his routes to create a lot of separation on comebacks and in breaking routes. He played on both the outside and in the slot, requiring him to run a complex route tree in college which should translate well into the pros. He has very good hands and shows the ability to high point the ball as well as making tough hands catches all over the field. He has a large catch radius and is very good at controlling his body to adapt to the football in the air to put himself in the best position to come down with it. He shows good physicality and can make strong catches against tight coverage. On deep balls he is very good at tracking the football down the field. After the catch he is a very good playmaker. He continues to use his speed and agility to find the open space and make big plays with his legs. He was used often on screen passes on film and did an excellent job of following his blocks and making defenders miss in the open field.

Run Game

Odunze was rarely used on designed run plays on film, but he has the speed and playmaking ability to be successful on jet sweeps and end-arounds at the next level. He is a sufficient blocker in space but does not show a lot of physicality and drive in his blocking. He has the size and strength to overpower defensive backs but he will need to develop early in his career before he can be a consistent asset in the run game.

Last Word

Odunze lined up all over the field, but he projects best as an “X” receiver on the boundary. He has an elite blend of size and speed and consistently made big plays on film. He made some very clutch catches on film as well and with his hands he can be a reliable 3rd down target early in his career. He was also used as a punt returner at Washington and had success. His playmaking ability in space will make him a viable option as a returner in the NFL.

One-Liner: Rome Odunze has elite physical traits and his route running and ball skills will make him an immediate difference maker in the NFL.

Grade: 7.0 (High End 3 Down Starter)

Games Watched: 2023 - Oregon State, Arizona, Michigan State, California, USC

Team Fits: New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs