It’s always a dangerous game expecting new players to step into the shoes of departed superstars.
There will never be another Rome Odunze, for example. A thirty-second conversation with the Bears’ first-round pick makes that clear.
But Friday’s practice showed glimpses of a player who could be something similar.
Audric Harris, a true freshman who followed Jedd Fisch and receivers coach Kevin Cummings to Montlake after initially committing to Arizona, went to the same Las Vegas high school – Bishop Gorman – that Odunze did. And while the freshman doesn’t have Odunze’s size – Harris is listed at 6-foot and Odunze is 6-foot-3 – some of the grabs he made in practice were reminiscent of the recently departed star.
Harris had two catches on fade routes during Friday’s practice, both of which got the offensive sideline roaring with approval. The first one came in team scrimmage period, with freshman quarterback Demond Williams Jr. floating a ball to the sideline as Harris worked against his matchup. He adjusted to the ball in the air beautifully and pulled in a catch that brought the offense inside the five-yard line.
In red zone work, Harris took a fade route to the back pylon, leaping over cornerback Leroy Bryant to make another big-time reception that once again had the sideline rocking.
It’s presumptive to call Harris the next Odunze, especially this early on in his career. Harris likely won’t see the field much with Denzel Boston, Jeremiah Hunter, and Giles Jackson penned in as the starters at wide receiver. Other young players like Arizona transfer Kevin Green Jr. and Jason Robinson Jr. have also shown flashes during fall camp.
But Odunze didn’t play much his freshman season, either, waiting his turn behind Puka Nacua and Terrell Bynum while coming up alongside Jalen McMillan. Ask those around the program, and they’ll tell you it was clear Odunze had the talent even as he waited for that opportunity.
If Harris starts stacking efforts like Friday’s, those same stories may start trickling out.