Odunze Checks a Lot of Boxes, More Than Most, Heading Into NFL Draft

Daniel Jeremiah describes the former Husky as his favorite guy in the upcoming talent grab.

In his latest mock draft, NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah revealed he has the Chicago Bears choosing Rome Odunze with the No. 9 overall pick in the first round, this after that franchise has secured Caleb Williams with the top selection.

Imagine that, the University of Washington's consensus All-America wide receiver paired together with the USC quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner as pro teammates, with all of this supposedly happening in roughly three-quarters of an hour into the draft.

That's the April draft pecking order as Jeremiah sees it, based simply on team draft order and their pressing position needs. 

However, if you want to talk just pure football talent, this seasoned NFL analyst jumps Odunze to the No. 3 spot on his list of top 50 draft prospects, with the accomplished Husky play-maker graded lower than only USC's Williams and Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. 

Yet there is even more feedback from Jeremiah when you get him talking about the 6-foot-3, 216-pound pass-catcher from Montlake.

"He is my favorite player in the draft," the leading talent scout said flatly of Odunze. "I'm a huge fan of his."

Explaining his deep-rooted attraction to this former UW football player, Jeremiah goes into the obvious — the size, speed and desire to be great — and the not so obvious about this super talented kid from Las Vegas — that he's one of the most genuine people you'll encounter.

First the football stuff. Jeremiah sees unlimited ability in Odunze, the kind that puts teams n the NFL playoffs.

"I like big, fast, physical, smart, tough guys who can go play above the rim and who have some route polish to them," Jeremiah said. "As a player, I love what he has from a skill-set standpoint. I think all of it translates. I think when you look at big games, games in the NFL, especially going to the postseason, I think some of that space disappears.

"You have to have guys who can win with bodies around them — he can do that. That's not to say he can't run. You'll see it when he gets to the combine, he can run, too."

Jeremiah singles out the well-proportioned Odunze for having exceptional hands, running the 40-yard dash in the low 4.4 seconds and being exceptional in everything else he does when in games. He thrives in traffic. Runs clean routes. Uses his strength to separate from defenders. Makes impossible adjustments. Plays only with great passion.

"Overall, Odunze is a complete player and reminds me of Larry Fitzgerald coming out of college.," Jeremiah concludes in his pre-combine assessment.

Ah, but this respected draft analyst is hardly done in breaking down what makes Odunze tick and complimenting him for his high-end motivation.

"I love there is a bounce and an energy to him," Jeremiah said. "I love the fact that even though you might have to coach some of this out of him, he hates running out of bounds. You see the competitiveness in him."

To demonstrate the character of the receiver, Jeremiah shared an Odunze story that was told to him by Brock Huard, the former UW quarterback, FOX college football broadcaster and Seattle radio talk show host.

As it evolved, Odunze met a commercial fishing captain and accepted an invitation from him after having never fished before. They went out on the water, just the two of them, and had a memorable time. The Husky football player asked the other man for his phone number. In most cases, this simply would have been a polite show of respect and nothing would have come of it.

As it turned out, Odunze followed up with his fishing expert without hesitation and the two men went out several more times and put lines in the water.

Then there's the matter of Ricky Proehl, a 17-year NFL wide receiver who spent time with six pro franchises, including the Seattle Seahawks in 1995-96. He retired in 2006 with 669 receptions, 8,878 yards and 54 touchdowns in his career. He won a pair of Super Bowls. He came away as knowledgeable about the position as anyone who played it.

So it's little wonder that Odunze, 21, would end working on his game with the highly accomplished Proehl, 55, who, in turn, has raved about him.

"I hear talking to sources and connections up there that the guy is incredibly bright," Jeremiah said of Odunze. "He's a great leader. He know every spot in the receiving room. He can play anywhere. He's been training with Ricky Proehl, and Proehl said he is as bright of a receiver as he has ever been around."

Favorite player in the upcoming NFL draft? 

By now, there shouldn't be any mystery about Rome Odunze, a guy who a lot of people, the NFL Network draft expert included, are sold on.

"He's just a great dude," Jeremiah said. "It's almost too good to be true with everything I hear about this kid."

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