Rome Odunze’s Sets Sight on Stardom: Rookies’ Missed Mark Fuels Future Ambitions
Bears rookie Rome Odunze held little back before the season about his expectations for Year 1 and still doesn’t.
It’s going to be a season of disappointment for him from an individual and team standpoint but he proceeds with optimism about changing all of it in Year 2.
“You only get one rookie season,” Odunze said. “That’s kind of motivation for me just to continue to put good stuff on tape and be the best player I can be every time we step on the field.
“We’ve got three more opportunities to do that and I’m looking forward to doing so.”
Odunze has 47 catches for 624 yards and three touchdowns. His preseason announced goal of being first receiver on the team to 1,000 yards would require three ridiculous games. He’s 71 yards ahead of Keenan Allen but DJ Moore has a more realistic shot at 1,000 with 758 yards.
Odunze had targeted another number beyond this.
“The goal was to attack Puka Nacua’s–my former teammate’s–rookie-of-the-year performance,” Odunze said. “Came short of that by a good margin.
“I feel like I went out there and did what I can, and made mistakes and tried to improve on those things and then continue to do so.”
There’s nothing like aiming big. Nacua’s rookie mark was 1,486 yards and 105 catches for six TDs.
