Newcomer Jabbar Muhammad Was Christened for Athletic Greatness

The Husky cornerback and Oklahoma State transfer has an eye on the NFL as he answers to an NBA name.

They way they go at it, the competition is so fierce they might as well be Muhammad Ali trading punches with Sonny Liston or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sky-hooking over Elvin Hayes.

Through a dozen University of Washington spring football practices, everyone stops what they're doing to watch whenever Jabbar Muhammad and Rome Odunze challenge each other.

They've been the Huskies' most entertaining one-on-one battle, constantly pushing, shoving, catching and deflecting. 

Considering their matching jersey digits, make that a No. 1-on-No. 1 competition.

There's no lack of confidence or swagger when the All-Big-12 second-team cornerback from Oklahoma State and returning first-team All-Pac-12 wide receiver shadow each other while racing downfield.

"It's battles across the board," Muhammad said. "I'm winning mine and he's winning his, and that's what it is — iron sharpening iron, man. I'm glad to come out here every day and compete against an NFL guy and I'm sure he's glad to come out there and compete against an NFL guy."

Now we know how Odunze drew his interesting first name. His father was a history buff, into ancient empires, who christened his son as if he were royalty.

As for Jabbar Muhammad, consider the endless possibilities with that moniker for forming an identity. They're all true. Again, it's a dad thing, only it affects most of this Texas family.

"I was named after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar," the defensive back said. "My little brother's name is Abdul. My big brother's name is Khairi Ali. So, yeah man, my dad named us after those guys and it's cool."

At 5-foot-9, Muhammad stands 17 inches shorter than the legendary NBA center. Yet he's tall enough to make a difference in the Husky secondary. He likens the UW offense to the Air Raid that the late Mike Leach installed at Texas Tech, WSU and Mississippi State. 

On Monday, he resumed his battles with Odunze, now being promoted as a preseason first-team All-America selection. 

The receiver got one up on Muhammad the first time they sprinted down the field, separating at just the right time to haul in a scoring pass. The cornerback returned the favor a short later, effectively keeping the ball out of Odunze's hands.

They'll resume their personal jousting on Wednesday, and again in the closing scrimmage on Saturday and then into fall camp.

And maybe beyond that, as well.

"We're both NFL guys," Muhammad said, "and hopefully at the next level, we'll see each other again." 

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