Rome Odunze’s Football Affection Born From Early Adversity

The prince of the Huskies began his journey to be one of the greats of college football at the tender age of six, and now, fast forward 15 years, he’s ready to take on the mightiest in the NFL.

Rome Odunze, the wide receiver for the Washington Huskies, is projected to be the No. 2 WR pick in the 2024 edition of the NFL Draft. He is sitting right behind Marvin Harrison Jr., the WR for the Ohio State Buckeyes, but is at the forefront of an argument that puts him at the top spot. In a recent interview, Odunze opens up about his love for football, and we couldn’t be more “all ears” to hear his story.

Rome Odunze discloses passion for the ball

In a video posted on April 20, Rome Odunze sat down with Chipotle for an interview, answering several questions about his footballing roots. The young Huskies’ WR explained how he faced disappointment when he first started playing at six but later found his love in it. Moreover, he was asked who his favorite player was growing up and his answer was unlike any other.

Odunze said, “I was seven because when I was six, I lost every game, but when I started winning, I thought, ‘Man, this is actually pretty fun when we have a solid team.’  I was a big fan of Devin Hester. There’s no design for what he was doing. He was literally out there playing ball off of instincts and scoring touchdowns at high levels. I just thought that was so pure and interesting when I first saw it.” Every NFL fan usually picks the likes of Tom Brady or the Manning brothers but Odunze’s pick of Devin Hester proves that he’s in it for the magic of football rather than trophies and numbers. That said, Odunze is discussing his preferred team ahead of the upcoming draft.

Rome Odunze wants to play with Michael Penix Jr in Las Vegas

Even though the Raiders don’t need a WR right now, Rome Odunze’s preference might change their mind. The Washington WR is considered one of the Top 3 WRs from the 2023 class, and what’s more interesting to note is that he’s a Las Vegas native.

Talking about joining Michael Penix Jr., Odunze said, “I’m a fan of the Raiders, and you know being in my hometown, I’m a big fan already. I’m a very city-orientated young man, so I definitely wouldn’t mind putting on that silver and learning from Davante Adams. Hopefully, they get my boy Penix or someone back there slinging the ball as well, that would be awesome.“