Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIDecember 13, 2023
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Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze shocked reporters Wednesday with news that he played with a broken rib and punctured lung suffered in a game against Arizona on Sept. 30.
That game, which ended in a 30-24 win for the Huskies, took place in Tuscon. According to Mike Vorel of the Seattle Times, Odunze revealed he was at a local hospital until 5 a.m. before beginning a 23-hour drive back to Seattle with his mother and two trainers.
Odunze didn’t let his health issues slow him down, as he caught eight passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns in a big win over Oregon just 14 days after suffering the ailments.
Odunze finished the season with 81 catches for 1,423 yards and 13 touchdowns. His contribution helped lead the Huskies to a 13-0 record, the Pac-12 title, and the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff.
The 6’3″, 215-pound Odunze ended the year as a consensus All-American and a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, making a case for himself as a first-round NFL draft prospect.
NFL Scouting Department ranks Odunze as the No. 9 overall prospect in the 2024 draft class.
Odunze and the Huskies will face No. 3 Texas in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day at 8:45 p.m. ET, with the aim of continuing their remarkable season.
