Skip to main content
Join Now
Team Avatar
Washington

Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze announces decision to return to Washington for 2023

Wade-Peeryby: Wade Peery01/12/23
washington-wide-receiver-rome-odunze-announces-decision-to-return-to-washington-for-2023
Jeff Halstead/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.

The Washington Huskies’ football program already got some amazing news this offseason, when superstar quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. announced his decision to return for one more season. On Thursday evening, Husky fans got some more great news, when one of his favorite targets, wide receiver Rome Odunze, announced on his Twitter page that he’ll be returning for one more season with Washington and head coach Kalen DeBoer, instead of declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft.

His announcement didn’t say much. He simply wrote, “I am back. We’re coming for a third.”

Check it out.

This season, Odunze hauled in 75 catches for 1,145 receiving yards and seven touchdowns for the Huskies, establishing himself as one of the premier receivers in the Pac-12 conference. The Washington wide receiver earned third team All-American honors from Pro Football Focus. Odunze teamed up with Jalen McMillan to form one of the most dominant receiver duos in all of college football this year. They’ll be back next year, as will their trigger man, Michael Penix, Jr. who led the nation in passing yards per game (357.0) this year.

The Huskies enjoyed one of their most spectacular seasons in program history in 2022, capping off the year with an 11-2 overall record and a 27-20 win over the Texas Longhorns in the Alamo Bowl.

Odunze decided to return to Washington and not enter the 2023 NFL Draft

The 2023 NFL Draft is set to take place from Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. The event will be held at the plaza just outside of Union Station.

Round 1 of the NFL Draft is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, Apr. 27. Rounds 2-3 will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 28, and Rounds 4-7 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Apr. 29. The draft will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on both ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility. 100 underclassmen were approved for last year’s draft. 73 of those 100 underclassmen were granted special eligibility while 27 of them were underclassmen who had completed their college degrees.

The 2023 NFL Scouting Combine will take place from Feb. 28 through March 6 in Indianapolis.