Third in an 11-part series. Tomorrow it’s tight end.
Roma Odunze’s parents gave him the perfect first name that became his persona on and off the field.
Odunze packaged elite ball skills with natural charisma during a high-profile, record-setting redshirt junior season that saw him on the verge of becoming a top-10 pick in the 204 NFL Draft.
He led Washington to a national championship appearance with 92 catches for a nation-high 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns.
“There’s ‘Roma the Warrior’ and ‘Roma the Philosopher,'” former Washington Receivers coach JaMarcus Shepard told the Post. “Every general manager, everyone who works in the cafeteria, everyone will fall in love with the philosopher, because he captivates you mentally in a special way.
“But when the Warrior comes out, you’ve got a nasty, violent, physical monster that expects to dominate every individual in its path, en route to accomplishing the team’s goals. Crazy. The great thing is that he can provide leadership from both of his personalities.”
He’s like a combination of the NFL’s Julius Caesar and Marcus Aurelius.
What’s even crazier is that a year ago, we heard Shepard criticize Odunze’s controversial catching ability.
If Odunze’s 2023 film steals passes from defensive backs and twists his 6-foot-3 frame in the air to adjust to the ball, or both like he did for a game-winning touchdown vs. There is no doubt that it is a montage of him doing both at the same time. Oregon.
According to Pro Football Focus, only two college receivers outperformed Odunze, who completed more than 75 percent of his catches last season.
He embodies Shepard’s belief that the term “receiver” is too passive, and Odunze said, “It doesn’t matter what the weather is, where the ball is thrown, or how physical the defensive back is. I am a ‘taker’ who understands that there is no ball, that is my belief. “
“Last year, one scout said we were leaving him too open about concepts,” said Shepard, who succeeded Washington head coach Karen DeBoer. I couldn’t believe he was questioning his ability to make a 50-50 catch.” After last season, he transferred to the University of Alabama as assistant offensive coordinator.
“Throughout the offseason, there was definitely an emphasis on that. For all the young players who don’t understand the importance of that play in practice and in games, he goes over and over and over again to make that play in practice. Repeated.”
For a team in need of a receiver with a first-round pick, the choice between Marvin Harrison Jr.’s route running, Malik Nabors’ speed and Odunze’s physicality feels like a must-see proposition.
“All three of them are kind of hairy,” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. told the Post. “Everything Odunze does is smooth. He is deceptive in terms of speed and overall movement.”
Sheppard modified his practice drills to put Oduzne up against bigger bodies.
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr., a potential first-round pick, learned quickly after transferring from Indiana that what should be covered for most receivers is still “open” to Odunze. is.
“Because Mike had a trusted relationship with Roma, and Mike knew that the rhetoric surrounding Roma was like that at the time, he was more willing to give us that opportunity,” Shepherd said. ” he said.
Oduzune gives public and private interviews as well as answers questions about competitive fishing.
Shepard believes that aspect of Odunze is due to his parents’ influence, presence and intelligence, and thinks he would be a good fit in New York if the Giants (No. 6) or Jets (No. 10) come along.
“He’s really a jack of all trades, so he won’t be able to handle New York,” Shepherd said. “New York has that ferocious toughness, and Rome has that too. There’s also glitz and glamor. Guess what? He’ll make those plays too.”
A performance reviewer who met with Odunze in the past few months praised his ability to “get the message across clearly” and his “comfort” in a high-pressure environment.
When asked in front of a microphone at the NFL Combine if he could land a plane in an emergency for any reason, Odunze handled the curveball without hesitation.
“Absolutely not,” Odunze said jokingly. “We are going down. Every soul has perished.”
When you are confident enough, there is no need for false bravado. He wanted to see how his numbers compared to the greats of his past, so he took part in the combine testing.
“I think a successful career will eventually lead to a Hall of Fame induction,” Odunze said. “I think who I am as a person, who I am in the locker room and who I am in the community are all positives.”
Everything is closely related.
“What will be missed the most is that Roman is the alpha dog because he was very friendly to everyone involved and had big blonde hair,” Shepherd said. “The last thing I can say is that in the biggest moments, Roma Odunze will play.”
