In 2020, expectations for Washington’s passing games were sky high when Chris Petersen signed 4-star receivers Jalen McMillan and Rome Odunze.  Expectations were that they’d be major contributors at the Power 5 level.

After Jimmy Lake was let go, Odunze,  McMillan along with Ja’Lynn Polk, and Giles Jackson needed to be re-recruited by new coaching staff, Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb.

In convincing them to stay with the Husky program, DeBoer was able to get them to fully buy into their pass-heavy offensive scheme.

In one short year under DeBoer, Grubb, and receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard Odunze in McMillan were all conference receivers.  They finished  first and third respectively in terms of total receiving yards.

And that’s with the Washington offense barely “scratching the surface,” as McMillan said in the off season.

One of the deepest receiving rooms in the country also returns for quarterback Michael Penix, Jr., Ja’Lynn Polk, along with adding who was also in the 2020 recruiting class, Germie Bernard, and Denzel Boston.

For the 2023 season most pundits project both Odunze and McMillan to be top 10 receivers nationally.  However, what should push the Huskies to the top this season is receiver depth.

Polk slots in as the third receiver on the depth chart but many programs around the country he would be a number one target.

Here’s a look at each player and how they fit into the rotation in the Huskies’ receiving corps.

Rome Odunze, Junior, 6-3, 215 pounds:  Odunze returns to Montlake after flirting with the NFL.  His decision to start

After this season he is projected to be a 1st round pick next Spring.  

Jalen McMillan, junior, 6-1, 192 pounds: McMillan also had an opportunity to head to the NFL but decided he had some business that needed some attention—a national championship.  The junior from Fresno, California was third in the conference in total yards but the number 1 slot receiver according to Pro Football Focus.  While not as physically imposing as Odunze, JMAC as his teammates call him, has all of the superlatives.  He can break any play with his elite speed. 

Ja’Lynn Polk, junior, 6-2, 204 pounds.   As a freshman at Texas Tech, the Lufkin, Texas product  demonstrated big time play ability.  He possesses  excellent balance to complete difficulty catches then turn them into touchdowns.  He competes catches on all levels, but is the most dangerous down the sidelines.  He is poised to be the number one target when the two above him decide to go to the NFL.  

Germie Bernard, sophomore, 6-1, 203 pounds: The Las Vegas native has already played one game at Husky Stadium—while a Michigan State Spartan.  While in East Lansing he showed why on his first catch as a collegiate receiver by breaking off a long touchdown from a short pass.

Underutilized by MSU, Bernard caught 7 passes in 12 games.  Once on Montlake he’s shown the ability to be a weapon lined up in the slot or  outside.  

Denzel Boston, RS Freshman, 6-7, 207 pounds: The only scholarship receiver in the group from the Evergreen State, Boston has ascended the depth chart to be Odunze’s backup.  Like so many players from the state, pandemic, he was overlooked coming into college. This fall camp everyone who has seen practice has noticed his ability. He has great feet and tightropes the sidelines well. He has all the makings of an elite sideline receiver when he gets consistent chances. 

True freshman Taeshaun Lyons, Rashid Williams, and Keith Reynolds move up the rotation with the injury to Giles Jackson.