Puka Nacua had a historic rookie season in the NFL last year. But the records set by Nacua could be rewritten this fall by another wide receiver with ties to Provo, Utah.
Rome Odunze, who was selected ninth overall by the Chicago Bears, has his sights set on Nacua’s records, he told the media last week. Odunze and Nacua were teammates at Washington before Nacua transferred to BYU.
“I think it’s important for every player to set those goals and strive to reach the highest,” Odunze said. “It’s unique in my situation because I went to school with Puka Nacua, so I followed him and got to see what he did, so absolutely, I’m chasing that. I think it’s around 1,500, right? Because of that rookie season record. Absolutely pursuing that.”
Last season, Nacua set NFL rookie single-season records for receptions and receiving yards with 105 and 1,648, respectively. He also broke the rookie record for most receiving yards in a playoff game with 181 yards and a touchdown in his only playoff game.
Nacua was fortunate to catch passes from Super Bowl-winning quarterback Matthew Stafford. Odunze will work with this year’s first overall pick, Caleb Williams.
Will Rome Odunze look to break any NFL and Chicago Bears records?
Odunze is also looking at records within the Bears organization for single-season and career leaders.
Brandon Marshall holds the team’s single-season record for receptions (118) and receiving yards (1,508), and Johnny Morris tallied 5,059 receiving yards for the Bears from 1958 to 1967 and is the Bears’ career receiving yards leader , according to Pro-Football Reference. .
“Of course, chasing those records, and I think that’s important because, you know, I said this in Washington, I hope to leave the Bears organization better than I found it,” he said. “And if I have my name on some of those records, I feel like that’s just one facet of doing it.”
What is Rome Odunze’s connection to Utah?
Odunze grew up in Las Vegas but was born in Orem, Utah, according to USA Today. Every summer, he visited his grandparents’ farm in Provo, where he learned how to work hard from his grandfather, Wayne Bunnell, as the rookie receiver told KeynoteUSA.
“I really model my work ethic after my grandfather. “He worked for a long time on that farm to feed his family, to make ends meet,” he said.
After being drafted in April, Odunze FaceTimed with his grandfather in Utah, as the Deseret News previously reported. He shared a video clip of the call on Instagram.
“I’m going to Chicago, Grandpa!” he told Bunnell. “I’m super excited. I just wanted to call you and see your face and say thank you for everything you did to help me get to this point.”
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