CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: WASHINGTON VS MICHIGAN

January 6, 2024

Rome Odunze

NRG Stadium

Press Conference

ROME ODUNZE: Oh. Doing well, how about yourself?

Q. First, I owe you an apology (Inaudible) I feel terrible now. Talk to me a little bit about wide receivers in college football. Why has there been so much success, so much greatness from guys playing in that position recently?

ROME ODUNZE: Oh, I don't know. I think the generations prior to us has inspired us, you know, Julio, you know, A.J. Green, Odell. There's been so many great wide receivers that have entered the NFL. The NFL's kind of changed into a passing league and you see all these wide receivers doing great things and I think that's kind of inspired the younger generation because it inspired me, so now you get, you know, the Malik Naberses, the Marvin Harrisons, the Rome Odunzes that are going out there and shining, and the Ja'Lynn Polks and the Jalen McMillans and all those guys, so I think the generations previous to us inspired us.

Q. Rome, I just wanted to ask you, when you made the decision (Inaudible) what kept you here?

ROME ODUNZE: I think it was a combination of, you know, the research that I was doing on their offense and how great they had been in the past and also getting to know them as people. I say I this all the time: Coach DeBoer is one of the most genuine guys I have ever met. Those things he said to me in those meeting rooms that we spent hours in, you know, trying to discuss my path are the same things that he preaches today and the same thing that he promises carries through on his promises for. So, I think just the people of it, understanding that Washington was a great area for me, you know, a good amount of people there that I've met that'll be my friends for life and a place that I have passion for, so a combination of all those factors I would say.

Q. This time last year you had a decision of whether or not to go to the draft. What ultimately made the right choice to come back?

ROME ODUNZE: I think this right here, you know? This moment. Having all my teammates here, having this coaching staff, and the University of Washington to be on this level, this light, which I think it belongs to be and I think I wanted to be part of that when I first came there. And when I first committed, I said that this was one of my top goals and now it's coming to fruition, so I think for these moments right here, that's why we did it.

Q. Hey, Rome. (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah.

Q. (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, for me it's huge. I'm a west coast kid. I grew up watching Pac-12 football, so for me, it's huge. I love it. I think the Pac-12 has been slept on for the entire time that it existed and for me, sadly, it's coming to an end, but, you know, the west coast will still be represented in these new conferences. Hopefully people around the nation will be able to watch regardless of time zones and different things. So, for me it means a lot to be able to be out here representing west coast football and, you know, go put on a show.

Q. Hey, Rome. Michigan's secondary's been able to really pivot a lot of top receivers this season. What do you see from them on film, and how will you be trying to expose them on Monday?

ROME ODUNZE: I think they do a lot of different things well and that kind of keeps offenses well on their toes as well as receives, and they got a bunch of great guys back there on the secondary that know the scheme, you know, strong, physical guys that can also run and, you know, be there competitive, competitively on every single pass play. So, it's going to take a lot just focusing in on our game plan, making sure we have all our details down, and go out there and execute it.

Q. Rome, one of the biggest moments of the season, you may have run a reverse in a big catch against Oregon State plays. Is that somewhere where you're calling for the ball or are these plays already coming your way? And what does that mean to you to make chose clutch plays?

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, I'm not really the type of the receiver to call for the ball like that, honestly. In my position I've been just so blessed with the opportunities to make those plays in those situations. My name has been called but, yeah, I think that all of us are just ready for the moment and this year, you know, thankfully the moment has came to me on several different occasions and I've been able to come through but that's anybody on this team, anybody on this team's ready to make those moments but this year I have been fortunate to be part of these special clutch moments.

Q. Earlier this year I spoke to Coach DeBoer and he said some of these throws Michael could make blindfolded (Inaudible) work on it so much. What was that -- what went into that work?

ROME ODUNZE: Definitely. Since the day that he got there he was transferring in, we've been working. He texted all of us to go throw routes on air, and we've been doing that ever since he got here, just honing in our craft trying to build that chemistry. Through both of these seasons through the work outside of the field, outside of season, in the office season, we built that connection that allows him to do that. And he's such a great talent that I'm sure he probably could go out there and throw some of these things blindfolded, but, yeah, it just took a lot of work.

Q. So the College Football Playoffs, a few times you guys were big underdogs for the national championship game. It feels like from where you are in this program at times (Inaudible) somebody played why do you think that everybody hasn't been paying enough attention?

ROME ODUNZE: Man, I think that's the age-old question right now. I think that's something I have been trying to answer, my family's been trying to answer, west coast's been trying to answer for a long time and it's something that I don't think can truly be answered. I don't think people are watching enough football out west coast point-blank period and everybody who's reporting on it, the media, which is you guys (Laughter) is not reporting on it the way it should be in my opinion.

But I'm biased because I'm from the west coast, so I don't know the whole story, right? But I think that there's just a lot of a lack of attention on the program just because, you know, football and everything down south, over on the east gets a lot of attention and that's just the nature of it, but at the end of the day, you know, what happens in between those lines is what happens in between those lines and teams that really prove it on the field are going to rise to the top and that's what's happened this season.

Q. (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: I think so, I think so. I think it's going to provide a bunch of new challenges as well, but I definitely think it's going to provide a new light because now they're able to play on a different time zone where people are staying up and watching those games and also to be able to play those teams that people say we can't hang with a lot of the time so, yeah, definitely. I think it will provide an opportunity for the west coast football to be seen, but it provides a whole 'nother set of complications and struggles that are, you know, yet to be seen.

Q. Rome, how much do you guys care about how this team is remembered and how that legacy is changed?

ROME ODUNZE: Uh, I don't know. That story is still being written, so we'll see. We'll see how it all ends up, but I think that, you know, it would be awesome to submit ourselves into history as one of the best Huskies teams ever, up there with some of the greats, and, you know, that's yet to be seen so we just got to go handle our business and find out what happens after that.

Q. You were asked about the secondary earlier but is there anyone specifically on Michigan (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: You know, I honestly think that they're all great athletes, great defensive players. Definitely have watched film on Will Johnson just because he's been a big name out there and made a lot of plays this year, but their secondary as a whole as is good unit so not paying too much attention to anybody specifically, but definitely looking at each of their tendencies.

Q. Rome, college football has changed quite a bit since you were a senior in high school. Just kind of taking in mind the changes you have seen, what do you think it's going to look like in four years?

ROME ODUNZE: (Laughter) Oh my goodness, I don't even know. College football is like a reality TV show to me. If there was cameras in the looker rooms for some of these teams with all the stuff that goes on, man, it would be a hit show for a long time, kind of like "Hard Knocks" I guess, but college football is even more crazy in a sense that it's unprofessional sports. The stories of people getting paid behind doors, the coaching changes, the firing, you know, it's so crazy, but I think the biggest change going forward is going to be the NIL world, just changing the scope of college football and how that's going to impact programs that don't have the funding or donors to compete with some of the teams that do. I think that will start to create a disparity which I would hate to see, but I kind of see it going in that general area but I don't know.

I think at the end of the day the sport continues to remain pure because you can't win this game without working hard and putting in the work.

Q. (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, no, they are. They've done a great job this year. I think that they're able to disguise a lot of coverages as well and get their guys in position to confuse the quarterback and confuse the wide receivers to make them think different things, different coverages, and that allows them to create some chaos in offenses and get them out of their rhythm as well as having very solid athletes, very good secondary and front seven who do their job very well. So I think they all-around have a great defense, can play any coverage out there and it's going to be a great challenge for us.

Q. Rome, let's have some fun. It's media day. Last week versus Texas, right in front of, me I'm doing the mega cast for ESPN. You just had a big catch and then you went to rocking the baby. Explain your mindset when you're rocking the baby and your confidence.

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, we was rolling down the field, we was trying to close the game out and I was able to make a big play and that's just something that came to my head and something that I felt like doing in the moment. I'm usually not a player that does celebrations like that or taunts anybody, so, you know on the big stage in that moment I felt like it was necessary and I felt like for my team to recognize what we needed to do and keep that momentum and keep that energy up. It just came to my mind and I did it, so, yeah.

Q. Talk about you guys in the wide receiver room because a lot of you guys have had a ton of success whether it's last year or this year along with Michael Penix, Jr., talk about the relationship you have with one another to not be jealous but to have that open competition and really competition as individuals and collectively as a group.

ROME ODUNZE: Oh, absolutely. I think that's one of the biggest things that has continued to drive us. In a wide receiver room a lot of people think the narrative is a bunch of divas and stuff and people who want the ball and are selfish in that way, but for us we created that competitive nature where we're competing against one another but we also want one another to eat and win and make plays and that environment creates something that keeps on snowballing and snowballing. The competitive nature gets higher and the play making becomes higher and you're kind of feeding off one another, and at the same time going through struggles, going through adversity, working when nobody is watching, when the lights are off. Thankfully for us it's worked out when that light are on and we're able to make a lot plays. Thank you.

Q. Rome, I wanted to go back to something about the west coast. Do you feel like this has happened to you in some degree? (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah I definitely do feel that a little bit honestly just because, I don't know, I feel like I've been playing pretty solid ball for a couple of seasons here and some other people have been, you know, in the light longer than me.

But at the end of the day, I don't pay too much close attention to that because I like, when you go out there and you work hard and you put it on the field, real gonna recognize real eventually, and that may come quicker for some people, but that's where you get into comparing yourself to another person. For me, I just compare myself to me and try to be the best player I can be every time I step on the field and I know if I do that, I'll be recognized eventually.

Q. Do you view yourself as the best receiver in the country?

ROME ODUNZE: I do.

Q. One more. When you think back (Inaudible) some people talk about being a first round pick, a top receiver, do you feel validated about your decision given everything that's happened the last year?

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, definitely. Definitely makes you feel better that it all worked out, right? That the story went better rather than taking a turn, but, you know, even if this team would have made, went 6-6, made a bowl game, I feel like this brotherhood I have with these guys, the experiences that I've been able to have and the journey that I've had, it was God's plan for me to come back another year and thanks to him, he's made it all work out so I'm here in this situation, on the verge of a goal that I've had since I was a little kid but, yeah, I think it was up to God and thankfully through all the hard work and perseverance we got to this stage, but, yeah, definitely feels better that the story went this way.

Q. Rome, (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: Oh, he means everything. I mean, he came to this program a little bit broken, you could say, after being through so many injuries and struggling in his college football career but before that being a Heisman candidate and being up there with some of the bigger names and falling to where he's been and he came here and he had the mindset to just improve, improve, improve, and he brought all of us along with him. We wouldn't have had the success we've had without him and his spirit, his on-the-field plays, his off-the-field comradery, it's really something special and something to behold. So for me for this program, I think we're all just super grateful that he chose us.

Q. What would winning the national title mean to you?

ROME ODUNZE: It would mean a lot. It would mean a lot. I've been playing football since I was six years old. I have luckily been a champion at nearly every level, so to me this is just another step in the process to becoming great and I think that it would be something I will remember forever and my family, Husky nation, something I truly care about would remember forever. It would bring a lot of joy to a lot of people's faces that I love, so it would be great for me.

Q. At the end of the past year, wide receiver talent is so deep, so fast, what types of wide receivers to do watch and which names to you prep to and why?

ROME ODUNZE: I watch all types of wide receivers honestly. I try and take a specific piece from everybody else I watch. Like when I was trying to figure out how to catch a lot of 50/50 balls, I would watch a lot of Julio Jones film when he would just go up and snag it effortlessly. Megatron, stuff like that. Also when I want to watch releases or get my releases better, I'll watch Cooper Kupp or Davante Adams or Stefon Diggs because all those guys are great in that realm as well.

Route running, Davante Adams again, Keenan Allen. Watching those guys as will and then also when you're watching late catchability and to be able to make catches in space, um, I watch all those different guys, but I don't watch Tyreek Hill because he's a little bit of a freak of nature so I just leave them to him. (Laughter).

Q. (Inaudible) at this point, a lot of -- (Inaudible) how do you feel you're contributing to the next level?

ROME ODUNZE: I think it translates well. I think I have a wide variety of skills, you know. I can get the job done on any given play with those skill sets and I think I'm a student of the game and the league, I think it becomes a lot more mental than it is physical at times. You have to have the physical attributes and the ability which I think I have, but I have the mental fortitude to be able to go through those 17 weeks and to be able to learn and grow and become a more knowledgeable football player that I think will be key.

Q. Going off that, how ready did you feel for the NFL this time last year?

ROME ODUNZE: I felt ready. I really did. I definitely felt ready. I felt like I could go and compete, honestly. I think definitely I've improved over this last season and am even more ready now, but I felt like I was ready to go.

Q. What was the process like for you...

ROME ODUNZE: It was just a lot of talking with my family, thinking about the best decision for me, considering the draft and looking at where I would go, but also considering my teammates and Mike coming back and everybody else coming back and understanding that everybody else was willing to come back and go through the grind and go through the journey that is college football yet again to get to something like this and just reflecting on that moment and how special it will be in this moment allowed my decision to clear up and here we are now.

Q. What type of feedback did you get?

ROME ODUNZE: About the draft? I got some solid feedback. It wasn't exactly what I was looking for. I don't want to be too specific, but it was some solid feedback. It wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear, but it wasn't terrible.

Q. Were you guys -- (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, I remember Mike said he was coming back at the banquet last year so he made the decision quick, but he was texting me as well. But he has love for me so he was telling me to make my decision, go through the process and to look at all the different things I wanted to look at before I made my decision but I'm sure he wanted me to come back as well, but, yeah, all the different guys, we were chopping it up a little bit and I was the last one to make my decision so I was just watching everybody, you know, commit. So when everybody did that, it was easier for me to say, okay, let's do it.

Q. Obviously changes a little bit since you were in school, just curious how much did it -- (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, honestly, it wasn't really a huge factor, honestly, because if I really wanted to go with the money I would have went to the league, right? Because that's when you get to play professionally and you're getting a paycheck, right? But it wasn't a huge consideration because I didn't want to do it for those reasons, of course, you know ... Montake Futures and University of Washington are two great institutions I guess you could say, so they wanted to help me out and hook me up and we were able to come to an arrangement on certain things so that was that was just a plus on top of --

Q. (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, I was happy how that went. I was feeling lucky to be getting anything because when I came into college football that was just a dream and I know so many people came before me that didn't have that opportunity as well so anything for me was awesome, honestly.

Q. Rome, how much have you guys had to adjust -- (Inaudible) individual tablets, how have you handled that?

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, we haven't really paid too much attention to it honestly, something we're not really concerned with at the end of the day. We feel like we'll be able to go out there and compete regardless. We don't pay too much attention to the sign stealing. That's their story so we just want to keep it about us and make sure we're doing all things.

Q. Have you guys done anything differently at all in preparation?

ROME ODUNZE: Nah, nah.

Q. You were with Roman Wilson in your high school. Talk to us -- (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: No, we haven't talked, but Roman is a great dude. I remember he was taking me around Hawaii, just showing me the different spots a little bit while we were out there because he was living out there at the time, and I played against him when he was at St. Louis and he was doing well for himself in that game as well.

So, man, I've been watching his story from afar, haven't really connected too much, every now and then but I have seen his development, seen his growth and I'm happy we'll be able to share that stage together on Monday.

Q. Rome, I'm curious, is it crazy that you guys are going to play in the last football game in Pac-12 history?

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, it definitely is crazy. I was just saying earlier that I kind of I grew up watching Pac-12 football and I'm a west coast kid, so I'm fond of the Pac-12 conference and all the teams in it even though some of us have rivalries. I back the Pac so, yeah, it's kind of surreal that it's going to come to an end. It's going to be different with the difference conferences, so we'll see how it all ends up, but, yeah, it's definitely pretty crazy.

Q. So there's no confusion here about oh, well, Big 10 -- (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: No, we're the Pac. We're the Pac-12 this year. We played in the Pac-12 this year. We a Pas-12 team this year. We might have Pac-12 logos on our jerseys still, I don't know, but for me, I would say we're the Pac.

Q. I'm curious with the NIL, do you think the way Washington has handled it as far as not being on the program that's going out and (Inaudible) a 17-year-old kid, do you think it's helping to maintain a culture recall because it's kind of based on performance and not projected income?

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, I wouldn't necessarily say it's based off performance. It's based on the work you put in for this program. I think for this coaching staff and Montlake Futures, they recognize that all the kids who have been grinding for a long time and have put in the work to make this program grow, so I think that they kind of reward that rather than guys that are just coming in regardless of if you're four-star, five-star, they want you to put in the work before they slide you any NIL.

Q. You know, you guys got Courtney Morgan from Michigan a couple years ago, the way that Coach DeBoer has built (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: He's been awesome and the recruiting game, they're great people and they do a great job, so he's continuing to push that limit on that fun and doing his thing. He's awesome. He's a great individual that you can be around, he always brings a smile to your face, a guy you can laugh with and I think the program is super lucky to have him.

Q. Hey Rome, on a lighter note, what's been your favorite bowl swag so far, game swag so far?

ROME ODUNZE: I'm a big fan of this sweat suit we got on today. We brought out the pristine -- last week it had the Sugar Bowl on it now it has the National Championship and I can't lie, this thing right here is clean so I'm a big fan of it. Adidas just did a drop for us yesterday if you seen on social media with some shoes and a different sweat suit that was awesome. I'm just soaking it all in. I'm not too picky, so I'm grateful for it all.

Q. Good luck.

ROME ODUNZE: Thank you.

Q. Rome, you guys all season, in some tight spots, close calls some very impressive calls. Is there a call or a decision you thought wow, that's pretty risky?

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, definitely our own play on our own 29, the fourth and one play, like okay, they're really doing it. But I understand the risk factor and I recognize it, but for me, I'm the same way. I want the offense to be on the field until we touch the endzone. So I definitely recognize some of those calls are risky, and I love the mindset that they're in attack mode and willing to take that risk and go get it, but, yeah, I would say that fourth and one play against Wazzu was probably the biggest moment.

Q. Does your staff just have ice water running through their veins? It seems like they don't change anything. As big of a game as that was, last week, seems like they were doing the same thing.

ROME ODUNZE: No, I mean, they got turbo running through their veins throughout the week so that allows them to be ice cold on game day. They work so hard, tirelessly. They just got here last night super late because they were back continuing to game plan and do those things. They just work so hard and they want it for us so bad and for this program so bad that when it comes to game day, they're so prepared, so dialled it's just kind of second nature to them.

Q. Thank you.

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, of course.

Q. Rome, I don't know how much you mixed up with him by Will Johnson, what have you seen?

ROME ODUNZE: I think he's a very instinctive player. I've seen him jump a few routes, get some turnovers for his team. I think that he plays that brand of football very well while also being able to cover anybody on the field. I seen that they matched him up with Marvin Harrison, and he was able to compete with him as well so definitely a young kid, athletic, doing his thing and I think he'll be a great competition for us.

Q. Do you expect that for yourself, that match-up?

ROME ODUNZE: I'm not sure. We'll see.

Q. How would you describe stylistically, schematically, what you think that team wants to do?

ROME ODUNZE: I think they want to change the picture on us. They've done it all year, changing the picture on quarterbacks, just giving different looks so that way you're guessing what coverage they're going to be in and they do a great job of that. So I think they're going to continue to try to do that to us as well as well bring some pressure because they have a great front seven.

Q. When you have a quarterback who can read the picture as well as any quarterback how do you evaluate given the fact that Michigan is not (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, it's hard to do that for that exact point. We never know I don't think -- I mean, I think Mike's the best in the nation so I don't think they've played somebody like Mike, so I think it's going to be a great challenge for them and a great challenge for us as well. That's why I think that match-up, our offense and their defense is something people are looking forward to. Thank you.

Q. What is your remedy for feeling pressure? How do you deal with it?

ROME ODUNZE: Remedy for feeling pressure? I think the remedy for feeling pressure is in the preparation. When you're on game day and you're feeling that pressure and you're nervous, that's when you know it's a little too late. That confidence and that preparation before the game even starts in the weight room, in the offseason, catching thousands of jug balls throughout the offseason, doing those different things, that's what allows you to be ready on game day to be ready for the moment so I would say the preparation.

Q. How do you describe what it's like to -- this is cool and all and fun but the game experience for someone who will never get to be in your shoes have that opportunity?

ROME ODUNZE: Uh, I mean, it's that same feeling when you work hard for something and it comes to fruition. I think that people out there shouldn't be afraid to go chase something that seems impossible, that seems like a dream, because for me this was a dream when I was six years old. So chasing that and working towards it and just going through the adversity, the ups and downs, all of it. When you come to this moment, that's what it feels like, that kind of relief and that excitement all that hard work you put in paid off so I would say that for sure.

Q. There was a time when the College Football Playoff was brand now, a big change for everybody. Can you remember what that was like for you? What was like for you watching football as a 10, 11, 12-year-old and register? (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: It doesn't register too much because I was so young. I didn't know exactly what was going on. I wasn't dialled enough. My parents aren't as big of football fans to be able to -- we didn't really sit down as a family and watch football that often. We did sometimes. So it doesn't -- I can't remember too much, but I definitely remember turning on the television and watching those big games, Alabama's been great throughout those games. Clemson had their run as well. When FSU was doing their thing. I definitely remember those games, but I just remember looking at those guys and being like man, I want to be there and luckily for me I have an opportunity to do that. Yeah, appreciate it, man. Have a good one.

Q. Have four easy ones for social media. If Coach DeBoer had an NIL deal what would it be?

ROME ODUNZE: NIL deal with a company or something?

Q. Yep.

ROME ODUNZE: Oh, I don't know. He would be like a -- I can't remember the brand. Like the -- oh, Carhartt. He would be a Carhartt guy, kind of worker, blue collar job, working guy. I would say Carhartt for sure.

Q. Love that. Favorite sports movie.

ROME ODUNZE: Favorite sports movie? Ooo. Maybe "The Longest Yard" maybe?

Q. Love it. What's the go-to hype song?

ROME ODUNZE: I'm a "Gangsta's Paradise" kind of guy.

Q. No hesitation. Who's the most underrated dude on this team?

ROME ODUNZE: Most underrated duty on the team, man, if I had to pick one. Who doesn't get enough love? Well, this is inspiration for him, you know, being able to find somewhere else to play after the season, I would say Dylan Morris. He doesn't get enough love. He struggled through some of the hardest times in this program, stayed here, fought, clawed to get us to where we're at now and all the hard work behind doors cannot be unrewarded, so I would say Dylan Morris.

Q. Last one, you and Michael Penix the back shoulder throw, people take that for granted. You guys do that every single game. What goes into that? Do you guys practice that? What do you do that makes it look so easy that other people continue to struggle with it?

ROME ODUNZE: I don't know. I think we have that secret sauce with the connection. It makes it easy on me when he puts it on the money every single time. I think a lot of it is on the quarterback being able to put it in the exact spot depending on the defender's location, and Mike's able to do that every time.

But, yeah, something we've worked on through the offseason through this season gained even more confidence on it, making plays on that play on several different occasions so something you just also have to have the will to throw because sometimes a lot of quarterbacks fear that throw as well, but I think it's something that we've kind of mastered and we'll hopefully utilize in this game going forward.

Q. Cool thanks, man.

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, go Dogs.

Q. I just talked to Coach Shephard and he mentioned that when you got your draft grade, scouts, teams maybe they didn't think you made contested catches well enough. (Laughter) What did you thing when you got that?

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, (Laughter) For me --

Q. It's kind of ridiculous now.

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, my thoughts then are my thoughts now. I think it's ridiculous. I think that I've made contested catches pretty consistently my entire career. Definitely have got better at it. That's a receiver, playing football, of course you get better but it's interesting because now I'm hearing some chatter about since I made so many contested catches, now I'm not open enough obviously now because I have had to make so many contested catches, so for me, it's just disappointing. It's just people trying to find ways to criticize your game and to do these things but at the end of the day, I feel like you turn on the film and I do some things pretty well. So, yeah, the contested catch aspect of it last year was pretty interesting to me.

Q. (Inaudible) You more than answered that.

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, I think so. I think the tape, the numbers, the statistics speak for themselves, especially the film. I think that's crossed off their list of things to say.

Q. He mentioned your leadership and the way you go about the guys, firing them up. When you get in front of your guys, what's your mentality like and how do you get hype when you talk to your guys?

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, I just go from the heart. This means so much to me that it's easy, you just let your emotions flow and what's on your heart flow and I feel like every time I do that it comes out pretty well.

We have a lot of the guys on the team that are vocal with JP being a vocal leader for us in the wide receiver room and outside that. They take some of the pressure off of me and allow me to shine when it's my moment as well. So, but in those moments I would just say it comes from the heart, you know.

Q. And then I asked him this -- (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: In my opinion, I think I should have won it but at the end of the day, that's not something I'm too worried about now. We're in that National Championship and raising up that trophy will mean a lot more than winning the Biletnikoff. Plus there were so many great receivers on college football this year. Marvin played tremendously, Malik played tremendously and kudos to those guys for sure.

Q. So many of you guys within your -- (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: It's been crucial just because I think that leadership and that knowledge of how things were and that mindset of going through those tough times and coming to this season and knowing that we have big things ahead of us, it took a collection of new mindsets, old mindsets to get that done. Some od the veterans we have, the mixed pot that we have, it's jelled very well and it's created a perfect scenario for us to succeed.

Q. (Inaudible) I should ask you about wide receiver school and how wide receiver school helped you.

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, shout-out Coach Adams. I already know. (Laughter) Coach Junior Adams, my guy. He did a lot for us, teaching us a lot of technique and that was some of the pivotal years learning how to play college wide receiver and a lot of it was just learning offense and learning defense and why you do certain things, because when you chock it up, there's only so many things you can do as an offense and so many different concepts that you can start to generalize some of the different things that are going on any given play, so he was teaching us those things and giving us the knowledge to be able to go forward and play like a pro and to prepare like a pro he would always say. So, yeah, that was wide receiver school waking up real early and going over those things.

Q. Before school.

ROME ODUNZE: That's right.

Q. What is the biggest thing you took away from that?

ROME ODUNZE: I think one, the mindset that it gave me, like working hard and getting up when things are uncomfortable and doing the uncomfortable things because it was hard to want to wake up at this time and come and learn and do those things, but it was better for us and also just the mindset of wanting to understand everything that's going on on the field as well. I take pride in being a smart receiver and understanding what's going on on the field and being kind of like a quarterback out there. So it kind of set those two things in motion for me that brought me a lot of success.

Q. One last question. You put in a lot of work catching the football itself and I was told you would -- (Inaudible) net over your helmet and practice. How proud are you of that aspect?

ROME ODUNZE: Coach Adams giving out all the secrets, huh? Spilled the beans. Nah, it's just another thing that allowed me to work on my craft, and the net allowed me to focus in with my eyes and my hands and connecting the two and I think all the little things that you do trying to become a better receiver help you improve. I would advise young receivers just to do something a little weird or a little different that you feel helps you and grow in that way and put in the work. And all those little things we did I feel has helped me grow and become the receiver I am today. Yeah, of course.

Q. (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, what's good?

Q. Rome, I wanted to circle back to something you talk about earlier in the season, but just the offseason, a lot of the (Inaudible) what were those conversations like between you guys being the last one to commit?

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, it was a tough decision, I think we were all talking about the possibilities of what the season could be, and, you know, the pros and cons of coming back because football is a dangerous game and you can get injured at any time. So, I think that there was a lot of risk in that sense and I think we were just kind of talking together, picking each other's minds on what we all wanted to do. For me, I was the last one because I wanted to consider every factor. I'm the type of guy I want to know every piece of information before I made a decision so when I got all that information and considered all the different things, including everybody coming back and the possibility of something like this being able to happen, have my dreams come true, it narrowed the decision down for me.

Q. Yeah, you know, and getting in (Inaudible) at that point but it kind of felt (Inaudible). At what point does it start to sink in?

ROME ODUNZE: You know, I think from the start it's in the back of your mind. I think it continues to grow and grow. I think at the beginning of the season, a lot of us, including me and Michael were in the interviews saying we wanted to go for a national championship and I don't think you fear away from that. Don't just say something and feel like you have to say it just to say it, but believe in that goal and that's exactly what we did, believed that we could be in this moment and we followed that up with the work and the tireless nights to get to this goal.

So it takes a combination of believing it and also going out there and putting in the work to achieve it.

Q. You grew up on the west coast so I don't know how much (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, for me it's bittersweet because we get to go out with a bang, but I was saying earlier I'm a west coast guy. I love Pac-12 football. I grew up watching Pac-12 Network at Dark and watching all those games and so many different moments, so for me, it's sad that it's coming to an end, but luckily all those teams are still going to end up playing football in some fashion or another, whether it's in different conferences or whatever so you'll be able to still watch some of your favorite teams, but definitely kind of an end of an era.

Q. Yeah, one of your teammates was saying (Inaudible) a national championship. Is that what you talk about as a team as well?

ROME ODUNZE: It was when we were in the Pac-12 Championship something we were on the verge of history of doing so something we were able to accomplish. Now it's being the last Pac-12 team to win a national championship so we're focused on that goal now, but definitely something we discussed after.

Q. Thank you.

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, of course.

Q. What's up, Rome. Talk about everything at this point with Washington under previous administration and COVID, a lot of uncertainty, leading up to this point where you're playing on the biggest stage, 14-0, going for 15-0. Talk the me about the individual that you came into Washington as and the individual that's on stage right now.

ROME ODUNZE: I think, you know, just like anybody else that goes through the experience of college, it's kind of a time in your life where you grow and you learn different things and you become a person that you're probably going to carry yourself as for a long time until my next adversity hits or my next lesson comes but, yeah, a lot of growth in my mindset, in my relationship building, in my habits as a teammate, my individual work ethic. There's so many different factors that this journey has taught me that I'm super grateful for and continuing to be on that path of growth for sure. What's up, man?

Q. (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: That was good. That was solid.

Q. Rome, when you said you grew up watching Pac-12 football, was there a team or player that you liked? Is there a seasoned player you enjoyed watching as you grew up?

ROME ODUNZE: Um, a player I enjoyed watching? Yeah, I liked -- I really watched McCaffrey he was playing because I think he was slept on too when he was out here or when he was playing ball. He was going crazy. It was really fun watching him. When I was really little, I also really liked watching De'Anthony Thomas. I know he plays for the school we don't mention now, but as a kid, watching him fly around going crazy was a lot of fun as well. And watching John Ross here at U-Dub was a lot of fun. Kind of those electrifying players making those extraordinary plays are always fun to watch, so I would say those guys.

Q. You and Jalen got here together. How would you describe y'all's relationship?

ROME ODUNZE: That's my guy. That's my brother. We came in here, we've been through all the adversity together and I think that we're better for it. There's just been so many different factors of adversity, whether it's injury or COVID that we've gone through to get to this point. I'm super happy that we're able to share this stage together and super happy for him and all the success he's had on and off the field. It's been a tremendous amount of different factors that he's had to go through to get through this point.

I'm super blessed, super proud of him and super grateful he'll put on a show on Monday.

Q. When you got here in 2020 together, did you envision this taking this path?

ROME ODUNZE: Definitely not. We thought we were going to come and make it happen for a snap. That was a bit naive of us, but we're big dreamers so we knew at some point we were going to take over and that's exactly what happened. We put in the work, you know, we continued to keep our head down and do the right things and we got to the biggest stage, so, yeah, I think we definitely had this dream, but it probably came a lot faster in our young minds than it did in real life.

Q. Where does this wide receiver team rank in recent football history?

ROME ODUNZE: I think it's up there. I don't know if I can out an exact number on it. For me I would say number one, but I'm a bit biased, so you guys got to go back and do the research to see who's number one, but I think we have a skill level and this wide receiver room as a whole, not even just the trio of us is something that people will look back on to see that was pretty special, so I think we're up there, though.

Q. The connection you and Mike have and the deep ball pass, what's the moment you realized wow this guy is special?

ROME ODUNZE: I think the first moment he stepped on the field when we were in the offseason and he wanted to go through routes on air with us I realized he was a little different. His ability to put the ball where he wanted on the field, his touch pass, his deep ball. There were so many different aspects to his game that I was like okay, yeah, he can really do this. From that point going forward, it just instilled confidence in us and that continued to grow and grow.

Q. (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, I think I wouldn't say surprising but I would be lying if I said it wasn't astonishing to see him be so consistent and do his thing and do what he does on a consistent basis the way he's done. I don't know that anybody could have anticipated that, but you could tell that he was going to do something special with his demeanor and his mindset and the way he carries himself. So it's not surprising that he's able to do these things, but you definitely got to take a step back and be like wow, he's really -- he's really doing it.

Q. Focusing in on -- (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: I do. I do, yeah. He was just chopping it up with us about his journey and all that he had been through and I think it was maybe in chapel, I believe, before a game and he was just telling us his journey and all the adversity he's faced. I don't if I had known to that moment all that he went through. I read up a little bit about him when he was first initially coming, but I didn't know -- I still don't know all the adversity he's been through. He's been through so much. So it inspired us and showed us, wow, man, if this guy can do all that and be as great as he is, the sky's the limit for all of us.

Q. As far as injuries -- (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, going through injuries and how he felt and the different emotions, but just a summary of all that happened to him, yeah.

Q. Staying on Michael for a second, how do you think his time in Indiana and playing for Coach Allen impacted him as a person, as a player, and impacted you players in turn?

ROME ODUNZE: I think it built a lot of perseverance and resilience in him. He was at the top. He was in the Heisman race at some point, beating Penn State in overtime with his little crazy run around the edge. He was doing amazing things and then he had a bunch of injuries that that kind of out a halt on his career, so he had to have the wherewithal to go through those moments and the persevere. He brought that mindset straight to us. We had been a program that just went 4-8. We had been a program that wasn't leading up to expectations so he fit right in and with his mindset and his culture and the way he leaded us, we just followed his lead and ran with it. Shout out Nate Kalepo.

Q. Hey, Rome.

ROME ODUNZE: What's up, man.

Q. Being out with Michael (Inaudible) how do you seen him handling making that leap?

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, he's done it gracefully, I think. He's a very genuine guy, very kind guy. He's done it amazingly. He's a busy man and he's busy working, you know, on us getting wins and making sure he's on his A game every single time he touches the field things. So for him to be able to handle those things so well the way that he does it, I think it's like no other and it shows his character, his true personality of love and caringness and I think that it's hard to do that so consistently the way that he does, so I think, you know, he's handled it very well.

What's up, man. How you doing, brother?

Q. (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: Rome, nice to meet you. No worries.

Q. (Inaudible) I know you said Roman took you around, what was that like?

ROME ODUNZE: It was awesome. It was awesome. I think that was my second time being in Hawaii because I had played there before with my high school so it was a lot of fun. I felt like he was a truly genuine guy and he was just out there to have a good time and enjoy one of his, I think his last game in high school, and he shared that experience with us. You know, and our kind of relationship continued from there.

I followed him on Instagram and have been watching his journey. I remember him making plays as a freshman, reminiscent of the plays he was making against my team in high school, so I have been rooting for him for a long time and I hope he continues to have success, yeah. Of course.

Q. (Inaudible) all star receiver from Washington, Rome, I have studied you -- (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: I think I get super excited. I think I can go toe-to-toe with anybody one-on-one so to have isolation with a quarterback like Michael Penix back there we can make plays. To me it's been an honor and a privilege to be able to get that.

Q. (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: A lot of it was, you know, the mindset behind it, too, just as a wide receiver you have to believe you're going to get that ball out of the air as much as you have the ability to do that so I think having that belief in one another and putting it where it's going to be. Every back shoulder ball is not the same. (Inaudible) I think that connection and our ability to be able to do that creates confidence.

Q. (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: I think that they're going to try to change the picture on us a good bit, create chaos for our quarterback and make him think twice. That's something we're going to have to decipher but challenges I wouldn't consider challenges -- (Inaudible).

Q. Interesting to see (Inaudible).

>> Ladies and gentlemen, there are five minutes remaining in the Washington media session. Five minutes remaining.

ROME ODUNZE: Yeah, yeah, (Inaudible) definitely a nod or a look like you see what I'm seeing sort of deal and always recognizing coverage just like I am, so probably even quicker, but so when we both recognize that, we're going to have that.

Q. (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: Thank you, brother. Thank you. What's up, y'all? How y'all doing?

Q. (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: I think it's meant everything. It's kind of our personality and how we feel ourselves we as takers. I think he kind of embodies everything that a taker is and we knew JP was a star from the day he touched the building he brought that mentality, that vocal leadership for us that we needed and continues to do so, so I think that it's created a mindset within us that we go and take the ball regardless of where it's at and we work hard in practice, too, because that's exactly what JP does. He's a relentless competitor on and off the field in practice, in games, and I think he's shared that with us all.

Q. (Inaudible) the thought process was if main guys stay healthy -- (Inaudible) I know he had a great deal of gratitude for you guys to be able to extend his college career, what kind of player do you envision him becoming?

ROME ODUNZE: Man, I'm so excited for Giles' future. All those guys in that room, honestly, but Giles, he's a tremendous player. He's made so many different plays. Even last year he came through for us on so many different moments just coming in and making a clutch play and he's nearly impossible to tackle as well. He's so shifty in practice. His practice highlights are incredible.

I'm just so excited for him to have an opportunity to make plays on a consistent basis having those opportunities I think it'll come natural to him. So much a competitor, such a great athlete such a good dude that I think he's right along the same line as all of us that have come through and had success and I think that's exactly what will happen to him.

Q. The story line (Inaudible) Texas line and run game and stuff like that, Michigan's DBs -- what do you see in that match-up and do I think -- (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: You know, I don't think anybody's faced an offense that can sync it like us, so I would say no but they do a great job in their secondary. I was saying earlier they do a great job of disguising their looks and being able to be in the spot post-snap that they were in pre-snap that allows them to change the picture on quarterbacks and they're a physical secondary that comes down in the run game and is able to defend the pass as well, so definitely going to be a challenge for us.

Q. Last thing I got for you -- (Inaudible) yesterday. (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: Oh, man, we got some of the best fans. They were outside in the rain to send us off with warm welcomes and a lot of high fives and cheering and it kind of raised our spirits to recognize that Seattle was behind us and our fans are behind us which we knew they were but to have that confirmation with that event and all of them there, that meant a lot of us. Of course, go Dogs.

Q. (Inaudible) day game or night game?

ROME ODUNZE: Day game.

Q. Texting or FaceTime.

ROME ODUNZE: FaceTime.

Q. What's your go-to hype song.

ROME ODUNZE: "Gangsta's Paradise."

Q. Who's the best dancer on your team?

ROME ODUNZE: Lance Holtzclaw.

Q. (Inaudible).

>> Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes today's --

ROME ODUNZE: Winning.

>> For those members of the media who took transportation from the media hotel, departures will begin shortly in the same location as drop-off.

Q. What's your favorite -- (Inaudible).

ROME ODUNZE: Winning.

Q. Thank you.

ROME ODUNZE: Of course.

Q. Getting fourth quarter (Inaudible) is that true? Did something like that happen?

ROME ODUNZE: The games, the moments like that are a bit intense so I don't recollect exactly what's going on but I wouldn't deny something like that went down. (Laughter).

Q. Thanks.

ROME ODUNZE: Right on, man. Appreciate it, brother. Appreciate it.

Q. Is it true -- [Inaudible] I want to.

ROME ODUNZE: Shout out Kobe, indeed.

Q. Who's go the best bars?

ROME ODUNZE: I'm going to have to say J Mac, CD, and Mike are all up there.