Social media reacts to Khyree Jackson’s Odunze comments at NFL combine

Oregon Ducks cornerback Khyree Jackson said his teammate Troy Franklin was tougher to cover than Washington’s Rome Odunze. Husky fans responded on social media.

Rome Odunze was one of the biggest stars for the Washington Huskies in 2023. The wide receiver was named to the Associated Press First-Team All-America after totaling 92 receptions for 1,640 yards and 15 total touchdowns as the Huskies made their run to the national championship.

Part of Odunze’s stellar season included two victories over the Oregon Ducks, where he pulled in 8 catches for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns when the teams met for the first time on October 14 in Seattle while he was dealing with a punctured lung and broken rib. When the two schools squared off again in the Pac-12 championship on December 1, Odunze reeled in 8 more receptions for 102 yards to send the Huskies to the Sugar Bowl.

However, Oregon cornerback Khyree Jackson wasn’t impressed with Odunze, who has been projected to go as high as No. 4 overall in April’s draft. During his time in front of the media at the NFL combine in Indianapolis, Jackson said that his Oregon teammate, Troy Franklin, was tougher to cover than Washington’s All-American.

“The best receiver I faced [at Oregon] was Troy Franklin,” Jackson said.

After fans on both sides took to X (formerly Twitter) to defend their favorite teams, Jackson doubled down on his statement.

Washington fans responded with this All-22 angle of Jackson’s matchup with Michael Penix Jr.’s top target, which included Odunze winning on third down against Oregon’s No. 1 corner for a 43-yard reception.

The move to the Big Ten will only inflate the rivalry between the two schools, which never has a dull moment.

While Odunze didn’t haul in a touchdown against Jackson, Husky fans were also quick to remind him that Washington did find the end zone with him in coverage in the October 14 matchup.

Washington’s play by play broadcaster Tony Castricone also chimed in.