Rome Odunze and the Washington pass-catchers were featured on ESPN’s College GameDay Saturday morning.

Playing in one of the country’s most prolific offenses, Odunze has been the primary threat in the pass game. He ranks fourth nationally in receiving yardage (907) and has brought in seven touchdowns on the year. None, so far, have been bigger than the 18-yarder he brought in to win the Oregon game on Oct. 14.

Odunze was asked about the play, and said it wasn’t even designed for him initially.

“I remember the call in the huddle was honestly a play designed for the other side of the field. I really wasn’t too involved on that play,” Odunze said. “Me and Mike (Penix Jr.) both saw the coverage and he felt confident in me and I felt confident in him for us to be able to make a play. He looked over, gave me a little signal, I saw it, and I was like, ‘OK, time to go.’ And then something magical happened.”

Odunze played in all four games during the COVID-altered 2020 season. In 2021, he and the Huskies endured a tumultuous 4-8 campaign.

He committed to Chris Petersen. He played for Jimmy Lake. When Kalen DeBoer took over, there was an initial expectation that Junior Adams would return to coach the UW wideouts, but that changed as well when Adams joined Oregon’s coaching staff. DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb had to convince Odunze to stay in Seattle.

That move has paid off for all parties.

“I definitely do think I’m reaping the reward of my decision to stay,” Odunze said. “I don’t think it always works out for everybody in certain circumstances, but for me, that’s why I feel so blessed. I stuck to it. I stuck through the adversity, I kept my head down and grinded, and now my team’s had a lot of success. My mom’s happy, my pops is happy, so I’m good with it.”