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THE JOURNEY BACK

by Priscilla Cummings ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 1, 2012

It’s a satisfying one, though, and it rises above the genre via gritty language and secondary characters with lives of their...

Sentenced to a juvenile detention camp and eager to escape, Digger has a plan that sends him on a journey that is both a survival story and a lesson in trust.

Introduced as the culprit in a prank gone wrong in Red Kayak (2004), Digger is angry yet determined to help his mother and siblings, who have long been abused by his father. Though seemingly anxious for their safety, Digger is derailed surprisingly easily once on the outside, as he tries to evade authorities and fend for himself as best he can. He develops a whole new persona as Gerry, the baby sitter for a kid with reading difficulties and a gambling father, and gets a job as a stable hand for a nearby horse-rescue farm. Some of the survival techniques he uses are both unlawful and unlikely, but Digger’s strong narrative voice and the basic decency beneath his stupidity help readers overcome these flaws. A surplus of action keeps the plot moving forward and obscures questions of logic that might emerge if readers had an opportunity to stop and think. The trope of the underdog who survives and wins a better future due to kindness in the world and in his heart is fairly standard fare, and this is no exception.

Pub Date: Dec. 1, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-525-42362-1

Page Count: 256

Publisher: Dutton

Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2012

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES

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BOOK REVIEW

by Priscilla Cummings

THE FIELD GUIDE TO THE NORTH AMERICAN TEENAGER

by Ben Philippe ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 8, 2019

Despite some missteps, this will appeal to readers who enjoy a fresh and realistic teen voice.

A teenage, not-so-lonely loner endures the wilds of high school in Austin, Texas.

Norris Kaplan, the protagonist of Philippe’s debut novel, is a hypersweaty, uber-snarky black, Haitian, French-Canadian pushing to survive life in his new school. His professor mom’s new tenure-track job transplants Norris mid–school year, and his biting wit and sarcasm are exposed through his cataloging of his new world in a field guide–style burn book. He’s greeted in his new life by an assortment of acquaintances, Liam, who is white and struggling with depression; Maddie, a self-sacrificing white cheerleader with a heart of gold; and Aarti, his Indian-American love interest who offers connection. Norris’ ego, fueled by his insecurities, often gets in the way of meaningful character development. The scenes showcasing his emotional growth are too brief and, despite foreshadowing, the climax falls flat because he still gets incredible personal access to people he’s hurt. A scene where Norris is confronted by his mother for getting drunk and belligerent with a white cop is diluted by his refusal or inability to grasp the severity of the situation and the resultant minor consequences. The humor is spot-on, as is the representation of the black diaspora; the opportunity for broader conversations about other topics is there, however, the uneven buildup of detailed, meaningful exchanges and the glibness of Norris’ voice detract.

Pub Date: Jan. 8, 2019

ISBN: 978-0-06-282411-0

Page Count: 384

Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: Oct. 14, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2018

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT FICTION | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES

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SEEN & HEARD

RADIO SILENCE

by Alice Oseman ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 28, 2017

A smart, timely outing.

Two teens connect through a mysterious podcast in this sophomore effort by British author Oseman ( Solitaire , 2015).

Frances Janvier is a 17-year-old British-Ethiopian head girl who is so driven to get into Cambridge that she mostly forgoes friendships for schoolwork. Her only self-indulgence is listening to and creating fan art for the podcast Universe City , “a…show about a suit-wearing student detective looking for a way to escape a sci-fi, monster-infested university.” Aled Last is a quiet white boy who identifies as “ partly asexual.” When Frances discovers that Aled is the secret creator of Universe City , the two embark on a passionate, platonic relationship based on their joint love of pop culture. Their bond is complicated by Aled’s controlling mother and by Frances’ previous crush on Aled’s twin sister, Carys, who ran away last year and disappeared. When Aled’s identity is accidently leaked to the Universe City fandom, he severs his relationship with Frances, leaving her questioning her Cambridge goals and determined to win back his affection, no matter what the cost. Frances’ narration is keenly intelligent; she takes mordant pleasure in using an Indian friend’s ID to get into a club despite the fact they look nothing alike: “Gotta love white people.” Though the social-media–suffused plot occasionally lags, the main characters’ realistic relationship accurately depicts current issues of gender, race, and class.

Pub Date: March 28, 2017

ISBN: 978-0-06-233571-5

Page Count: 496

Publisher: HarperTeen

Review Posted Online: Jan. 16, 2017

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2017

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT FICTION | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES

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by Alice Oseman ; illustrated by Alice Oseman

by Alice Oseman

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The Journey Summary & Analysis by Mary Oliver

• Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis
• Poetic Devices
• Vocabulary & References
• Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme
• Line-by-Line Explanations

Mary Oliver's "The Journey" first appeared in her 1963 collection No Voyage and Other Poems . The poem is about the importance of taking charge of one's own life and leaving behind negative influences. Despite being one of Oliver's more personal poems, and including references to real events in Oliver's life, many readers will identity with its themes of self-reliance and integrity. This has helped to secure its place as one of the most popular poems from one of America's most popular poets.

• Read the full text of “The Journey”

The Full Text of “The Journey”

“the journey” summary, “the journey” themes.

The Importance of Self-Reliance

Line-by-line explanation & analysis of “the journey”.

One day you ... ... bad advice —

though the whole ... ... at your ankles.

Lines 10-13

"Mend my life!" ... ... had to do,

Lines 14-18

though the wind ... ... was terrible.

Lines 19-22

It was already ... ... branches and stones.

Lines 23-26

But little by ... ... sheets of clouds,

Lines 27-29

and there was ... ... as your own,

Lines 30-32

that kept you ... ... into the world,

Lines 33-36

determined to do ... ... you could save.

“The Journey” Symbols

• Lines 6-7: “though the whole house / began to tremble”
• Lines 14-16: “though the wind pried / with its stiff fingers / at the very foundations,”

• Lines 25-26: “the stars began to burn / through the sheets of clouds,”

“The Journey” Poetic Devices & Figurative Language

• Lines 3-4: “though the voices around you / kept shouting”
• Lines 14-15: “though the wind pried / with its stiff fingers”
• Lines 17-18: “though their melancholy / was terrible.”
• Line 33: “determined to do”
• Line 35: “determined to save”

Extended Metaphor

• Lines 19-26: “It was already late / enough, and a wild night, / and the road full of fallen / branches and stones. / But little by little, / as you left their voice behind, / the stars began to burn / through the sheets of clouds,”
• Lines 31-32: “as you strode deeper and deeper / into the world,”

Personification

• Lines 1-2: “knew / what”
• Lines 3-4: “you / kept”
• Lines 4-5: “shouting / their”
• Lines 6-7: “house / began”
• Lines 7-8: “tremble / and”
• Lines 8-9: “tug / at”
• Lines 14-15: “pried / with”
• Lines 15-16: “fingers / at”
• Lines 17-18: “melancholy / was”
• Lines 19-20: “late / enough”
• Lines 21-22: “fallen / branches”
• Lines 25-26: “burn / through”
• Lines 27-28: “voice / which”
• Lines 28-29: “slowly / recognized”
• Lines 30-31: “company / as”
• Lines 31-32: “deeper / into”
• Lines 33-34: “do / the”
• Lines 35-36: “save / the”
• Lines 1-2: “you finally knew / what you had to do”
• Line 13: “You knew what you had to do”
• Line 23: “little by little”
• Line 31: “deeper and deeper”
• Lines 35-36: “to save / the only life that you could save.”
• Line 1: “One,” “finally,” “knew”
• Line 6: “whole,” “house”
• Line 7: “to,” “tremble”
• Line 8: “felt,” “tug”
• Line 9: “at”
• Line 15: “stiff,” “fingers”
• Line 16: “foundations”
• Line 17: “melancholy”
• Line 18: “terrible”
• Line 19: “already,” “late”
• Line 20: “wild”
• Line 21: “full,” “fallen”
• Line 22: “stones”
• Line 23: “little,” “little”
• Line 24: “behind”
• Line 25: “began,” “burn”
• Line 30: “kept,” “company”
• Line 31: “deeper,” “deeper”
• Line 33: “determined,” “do”
• Line 34: “do”
• Line 35: “determined”

Alliteration

• Line 15: “fingers”
• Line 22: “branches”
• Line 23: “But”
• Line 1: “knew”
• Line 2: “you,” “do”
• Line 3: “you”
• Line 10: “life”
• Line 11: “cried”
• Line 13: “knew,” “you,” “do”
• Line 14: “wind”
• Line 15: “with,” “its,” “stiff,” “fingers”
• Line 20: “wild,” “night”
• Line 28: “slowly”
• Line 29: “own”
• Line 31: “strode”

“The Journey” Vocabulary

Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.

• (Location in poem: Lines 10-11: “"Mend my life!" / each voice cried.”)

Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “The Journey”

Rhyme scheme, “the journey” speaker, “the journey” setting, literary and historical context of “the journey”, more “the journey” resources, external resources.

The Poem Out Loud — Listen to a recording of Oliver reading "The Journey."

Oliver's Life and Work — Learn more about Oliver in this biography from the Poetry Foundation.

The Summer Day — Another of Oliver's best known poems, which similarly touches on the theme of taking charge of one's own life and happiness.

Mary Oliver and Amazement — An article by Rachel Syme about Oliver's legacy for the New Yorker.

Oliver's Obituary — Read Oliver's 2019 obituary in The Washington Post.

LitCharts on Other Poems by Mary Oliver

Good-Bye Fox

The Black Walnut Tree

The Summer Day

Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions

The Incredible Journey

44 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-2

Chapters 3-8

Chapters 9-11

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Summary and Study Guide

The Incredible Journey was written by Sheila Burnford and published in 1960. It is a children’s title—although Burnford has asserted that it was not meant for children exclusively. The novel began to enjoy cultural prominence when it was adapted into a Disney film in 1963. It was also re-made in a 1993 film.

Plot Summary

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It is the beginning of an Indian summer in northwest Ontario at the outset of the story. The writer John Longridge has assumed care of the Hunter family’s beloved pets: the elderly bull terrier Bodger , the sassy Siamese cat Tao , and the young and ever-loyal golden labrador Luath . The Hunters are longtime friends of Longridge, who also is the Hunter children’s godfather. 12-year-old Peter has had Bodger since he was only a year old, and the two share an inimitable bond. Tao belongs to his younger sister Elizabeth, and Luath is James Hunter’s steadfast hunting companion. The Hunters have gone on a trip to England for a temporary academic job that James has accepted there. When Longridge heard that the family planned to board their beloved animals, he volunteered to care for them in their absence. He has been housing the animals in his Ontario forest cabin, which he occasionally lives in while completing his manuscripts.

Longridge also loves the Hunter animals very much. Bodger has warmed to him quite naturally, as being a companion to humans is the dog’s greatest love. Tao is aloof yet comfortable and occasionally affectionate with Longridge. Luath is respectful and well-mannered but saves all of his true loyalty for his master, James.

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Longridge is good friends with his (long-distance) neighbors the Oakes. Mrs. Oakes sees to his domestic needs when he stays in his cabin. He has arranged for her to care for the animals while he embarks on a canoe hunting expedition. The night before his departure, he composes a two-page letter to Mrs. Oakes. In it, he tells her that he will be taking the animals out for a walk the next morning, and then bringing them back in afterwards, before he sets out on his journey. However, during the night, Tao runs across Longridge’s desk and upsets the letter—sending the second page into the fireplace, where all but Longridge’s signature is lost to the flames.

The next day, when Mrs. Oakes arrives, she finds only the first page of Longridge’s letter, which makes it ambiguously appear that he has taken the animals with him on his canoeing hunting trip. The animals are not in the house. Mrs. Oakes frets over this, as she was eager to spend time with Bodger, especially, and is a bit concerned about the practical elements of bringing them all on a canoeing expedition. She defers to what she believes is Longridge’s judgment.

Unbeknownst to all the humans, Luath has led his two companions on a journey westward and toward their home. The animals have naturally fallen into a formation that they will adopt for many hundreds of miles: Luath stays by Bodger’s left side, as the elder dog is deaf in his left ear, and Tao trails them while indulging his own curiosities along the trail.

The animals each tap into their ancestral instincts during their journey. Tao is the wildest in the trio—he is able to effortlessly hunt and progress through the forest fearlessly. Bodger has fighting instincts, but his advanced age renders him a fragile and fitful traveler. Luath is not a killer by nature, and has trouble catching prey, but it is his internal compass westward and homebound that leads the way.

The animals encounter a number of high-stakes difficulties during their journey. One day, a bear cub takes an interest in Bodger and slashes him across the back. Tao quickly comes to her friend’s aid, attacking the cub’s eyes with his razor-sharp claws. When Luath comes bounding onto the scene, the mother bear and her cub retreat.

On another occasion, Tao is overtaken by an avalanche of timber when a beaver dam collapses while he is trying to cross a river. The cat is knocked unconscious and almost drowns but is fortuitously rescued by a young Finnish girl named Helvi Nurmi. Water blocks up the cat’s ears and renders him deaf for three days. Helvi and her family nurse Tao back to health, and the cat regains his hearing before setting back out into the wilderness and re-joining his canine companions.

The three animals also happen upon an elderly man with a faltering grip on reality. He mistakes the animals for humans and tries to treat them to a meal in his cabin before seeing them out.

Luath also incurs the wrath of a porcupine that he unsuccessfully tries to hunt and is forced to continue the journey with three quills lodged in his face. The wounds quickly become infected and extremely painful.

Bodger and Luath are later taken in by a kindly couple named the Mackenzies. Empty nesters who live in the wilderness, they have had many family pets throughout the years and intimately know the deep bonds that can form between domestic pets and their human masters. When the ever-loving Bodger turns up on their doorstep, later followed by a more cautious Luath, they immediately take the animals in and begin inquiring in their township about the peculiar trio’s presence in the wilderness. They also see Luath’s failing health, extract the quills immediately, and feed him as much as possible. Although they are intent on keeping the dogs, they also can see that they are on a very purposeful and undeterrable journey. Tao never makes himself known to the Mackenzies. Instead, he unlocks the latch to the barn where the couple begins keeping the dogs. A after a few days, the animals have headed back out into the wilderness and on their way.

By now, word of mouth from the various people who have encountered the animal trio has spread, and Oakes and Longridge have cobbled together the pieces of the puzzle to determine that the animals are headed westward and toward their home. They have been able to speak via telephone to several of the people that the animals have encountered. They also assume that the animals are dead. By looking at a map, they are able to pinpoint the animals’ journey with good accuracy, and they also see that they are headed toward the treacherous Ironmouth Mountain Range—just as the Indian summer is ending and a cruel winter approaches.

A few weeks pass, and Longridge has informed the Hunters of the unfortunate turn of events with their pets. The Hunters have returned from their trip, each family member full of longing and anticipation for their reunion with their beloved pet. Elizabeth has even purchased a new red leather collar for Tao. The Hunters are heartbroken to learn the news, and as time goes on, Elizabeth becomes the lone holdout in the family—she is utterly convinced that the animals will return to them, safe and sound.

The Hunters and Longridge go on a trip to the Hunters’ summer cottage. Elizabeth is hesitant to go, as she worries that Tao and the others may return home while they are gone. Longridge shows her the map of the animals’ route and assures her that the Hunter summer cottage lies on it. This convinces Elizabeth to go, but Longridge is afraid that her determined optimism will soon be proven wrong. All of the humans are devastated by the loss of the animals, but they try their best to enjoy their trip. Peter is especially bereft, as he shares a deep bond with the dog he has treasured as his companion for his whole life. He is convinced that Bodger is dead.

Then, on the last August day of their trip and Peter’s birthday, while they are on a walk in the forest, Emily hears a dog barking. She listens closely and immediately identifies the bark as Luath’s. No one else believes her—until Tao comes bounding out of the forest. The overjoyed cat is enclosed in a warm embrace by Elizabeth. Soon enough, Luath also emerges from the forest for an emotional reunion with James.

Peter watches the scene quietly, and then tells everyone that he is going to circle back on the trail to try to capture a photograph of a whisky-jack. He is clearly saddened by Bodger’s absence. Longridge decides to join him in order to keep an eye on him. Then, Bodger emerges from the forest and reunites with his master. This is the greatest birthday present Peter has ever received. The story ends on an image of Longridge making his way down the trail. He is joined by Tao on his walk in the spirit of intimate friendship. 

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The Journey Back Paperback – Illustrated, October 3, 2013

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• Reading age 10 - 17 years
• Print length 272 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 5 - 9
• Lexile measure 810L
• Dimensions 5.06 x 0.68 x 7.75 inches
• Publisher Puffin Books
• Publication date October 3, 2013
• ISBN-10 0142422908
• ISBN-13 978-0142422908
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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Puffin Books; Reprint edition (October 3, 2013)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0142422908
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0142422908
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 10 - 17 years
• Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 810L
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 5 - 9
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.06 x 0.68 x 7.75 inches
• #88 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction on Physical & Emotional Abuse (Books)
• #139 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction about Being a Teen (Books)
• #690 in Teen & Young Adult Friendship Fiction

About the author

Priscilla cummings.

Priscilla Cummings is the author of Red Kayak and A Face First, an ALA Notable Book. She spent an academic year attending school with blind students before writing this story of a teenager's wrenching physical and mental journey into blindness. She lives in Annapolis, Maryland.

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Live updates, roger goodell’s 2024 nfl draft hugs up in the air after back surgery.

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One of the 2024 NFL Draft’s biggest question marks has nothing to do with the franchise-alerting decisions teams are going to make Thursday night.

Instead, commissioner Roger Goodell has a choice to make that could end up making the event in Detroit look a little bit different this year.

According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter , Goodell underwent back surgery three weeks ago.

And unlike a draft prospect that has their stock hurt by such a procedure, this is not exactly the case for Goodell, who isn’t getting picked by any of the league’s 32 teams.

However, per Schefter, while the commissioner’s recovery has gone well so far, Goodell still might not be able to hug the players he greets on stage after he announces their names, something he’s known for doing since he took over as the head of the league in 2006.

If it does not happen Thursday night, it wouldn’t be the first time Goodell hasn’t gotten the chance to greet the league’s newest players in such a manner, though the last time wasn’t by choice.

In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL — which had planned to hold the draft in Nevada — hosted the event virtually , and Goodell announced first-round picks from his home, obviously having no physical contact with the players.

And if Goodell is able to dole out some hugs this time around, it will be to — at most — 13 players, the smallest group to attend in person since the 2021 draft.

According to The Athletic , there are a number of reasons for this low total, which include the location of the draft and players being uncertain about where and when they’ll be picked during the night — if at all.

Either way, even if Goodell is to hug the players after the picks, he’s likely not going to have the moment he had in 2015 when Browns pick Danny Shelton hugged and lifted the commissioner high off the ground , or repeat the moment he had three years later with Dolphins selection Christian Wilkins when the two shoulder-bumped .

The questions surrounding Goodell’s decision will undoubtedly be answered when he will likely call Caleb Williams’ name first when the Bears go on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick.

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"It's a dream come true": Rome Odunze talks about epic journey to the 2024 NFL Draft

From early rome odunze days to the nfl draft..

It's Week 4 of the 2023 college football season. The No. 8 Washington Huskies are up 38-12 over Pac-12 foe Cal on a chilly Seattle night. Late in the first half, Washington's top receiver, Rome Odunze , is split wide to the left.

Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. takes the snap and Odunze beats press coverage immediately, racing up the seam. Penix Jr. knows where he wants to go but sees a safety lurking in Odunze's way. He launches a deep pass to the corner, away from the safety but also away from Odunze's original path, forcing a tight-window throw.

In a split second Odunze looks back at the ball, adjusts his route, and looks back again in time to secure the pass for a touchdown - a sight Huskies fans saw 13 times over the course of the season.

"That was one of my favorite plays from the season," Odunze said, crediting teammate Jalen McMillan with helping develop his elite ball-tracking abilities. "You have to be ready for that moment and retain the focus through a route adjustment to make the catch."

It's plays like that on the field - and the man Odunze is off of it - that make him one of the top prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. That potential began in Utah more than a decade ago.

NFL DRAFT HUB: Latest NFL Draft mock drafts, news, live picks, grades and analysis.

Rome Odunze's journey from Utah to Seattle

Odunze, named after the Roman Empire thanks to his father's love of history, was born in Orem, Utah. At age 3, his parents moved to Las Vegas. Even with the distance, Odunze made the trek back to Provo, Utah to spend summers with Wayne and Helen Bunnell, his maternal grandparents, at their farm.

"I remember the four-wheelers, I remember the cows, the hay, the barn, the tractors," Odunze recalled with ESPN . "Also the hard work."

Odunze made the varsity team at high school football powerhouse Bishop Gorman High School mid-way through his freshman year. He earned All-State honors as a junior as Bishop Gorman won a state title in 2018.

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Odunze credits Wayne's work ethic providing for the family as a model for success.

"My family, my mother, my pops, where I come from, we're all hardworking and determined people with tenacity," Odunze said. "It was naturally instilled in me as a young man and continues to be instilled in me to this day."

Success kept coming for Odunze on the football field. Bishop Gorman fell short in the title game in 2019 but Odunze earned Gatorade Nevada High School Player of the Year honors.

His outstanding play on the field complemented his stellar work off of it. Odunze was a 3.47 GPA student and a volunteer with charities including the Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada and the Special Olympics.

In August 2016, Wayne went out for a bicycle ride as he did often after a day of work on the farm. But this time he crashed and went over his handlebars, suffering a traumatic brain injury in the process.

He's legally blind and never got to see Odunze shine on the field for the Huskies. Instead, Helen watches diligently and fills him in on every catch.

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Building a winner in Seattle

In the Huskies' 2020 recruiting class, Odunze wasn't even the top-ranked receiver. That honor went to McMillan, a four-star wide receiver out of Fresno, Calif.

During his second year in Seattle, Washington fired coach Jimmy Lake after video showed him shoving linebacker Ruperake Fuavai during a loss to Oregon. As a highly touted recruit, Odunze could've entered the transfer portal and looked elsewhere.

"I had already made my mind up that I wanted to leave the place better than I found it," Odunze said. "I felt like there was so much still to accomplish. When the new staff came in and we talked about their offense, they talked about [Penix Jr.] coming in, I knew it could be something special."

He stayed as the Huskies hired new head coach Kalen DeBoer and the results on the field were immediate. Odunze made a leap and led the conference with 1,145 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns.

"The offense allowed for a lot of plays to be made by the receivers," Odunze said. "I had the skillset, I had the talent, just putting more work in through the offseason and I grew as a player... the offense started to allow me and all my brothers to eat."

During that breakout season, he took a day in December with teammates McMillan, Bralen Trice , Troy Fautanu , and Alphonzo Tuputala to wrap gifts for underprivileged children with The Forgotten Children's Fund .

That community work continued ahead of his third season, too. During Dawg Derby , a charity event put on in July by the University of Washington that pairs players and fans for a fishing tournament on Puget Sound, Odunze's foundation donated $5,000 to the Tulalip Boys & Girls Club .

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Odunze's record-breaking 2023 season

After earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2022, Odunze earned a new title before the first kickoff of 2023: team captain.

"It's one of the biggest honors I've ever received," he said. "That's something I hold closer to my heart than a lot of awards that I've received and that's because it's voted on by the team. For those boys to see me as a leader, as someone they want to captain the team, to lead them out into battle every game, I felt very blessed."

His third season in Seattle was a record-breaking one. Odunze's 1,640 yards in 2023 broke the program's single-season record by nearly 200 yards. All of this while playing through a fractured rib and a collapsed lung suffered late in Washington's 31-24 win over Arizona .

This is the same man who played for two weeks of his sophomore season in high school with a broken collarbone . He'd miss no playing time for the Huskies who were gearing up for a showdown with Oregon.

“That dude was already worried about what he could do to get better and be ready for Oregon," Washington's head trainer Daren Nystrom told Christian Caple of On Montlake . “He did not make a big deal of it. If you didn’t know what was going on, you wouldn’t have known. You couldn’t tell by looking at him.”

Odunze kept playing and Washington kept winning. A win over Oregon in the final Pac-12 championship game ensured a spot in the College Football Playoff.

"I've been winning championships playing football for a long time," Odunze said. "Finally, to get my first Pac-12 championship with my brothers, it was a four-year journey. When we finally did and we could relish in the moment, that's something that I'll never forget."

After winning the Sugar Bowl over Texas , Odunze was the last player on the field at the Superdome. He was signing autographs for any kid who wanted one.

Though the Huskies lost the College Football Playoff national championship game, Odunze's proud of building one of the most successful teams in program history. His impact didn't go unnoticed by key figures in the program, either.

“Just over and over again, think about how many times he’s come through when you really needed it," DeBoer, now at Alabama , told reporters . "A lot of times you think about when you lose football games or you didn’t come through in the big moment. You remember those. I can’t remember Rome not coming through.”

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Rome Odunze's draft potential

You don't have to look far to find praise from scouts and analysts about Odunze. He put on a show at the scouting combine while other top prospects sat out, including staying later than any other prospect to get the time he wanted in the three-cone drill.

That drive - in addition to his talent and production - is grabbing plenty of attention.

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah said Odunze is his favorite player in the draft in a media call. An NFL scout told The Athletic's Bruce Feldman Odunze is the safest guy of the top tier receivers and "he's built right to last and run routes." A wide receiver coach also raved about Odunze's football IQ. NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein compared Odunze to future NFL Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald .

In most other years, Odunze's production, athleticism, and character make him the top wide receiver in a draft class. But Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr. and LSU's Malik Nabers are a pair of other top prospects at the position.

"I think [Harrison Jr.] is a tremendous wide receiver," Odunze said leading up to the draft . "He has a Hall of Fame father who has installed that in him... he kind of emulates that in his own game."

Regardless of how you rank the top receivers, Odunze is a near-lock for the top 10. USA Today's latest mock drafts have Odunze going No. 9 overall to the Chicago Bears and No. 10 overall to the New York Jets .

He's one of the few prospects invited to Detroit to be at the NFL Combine live. When he hears his name called, it'll be the culmination of more than a decade of work that sprouted from a family farm in Provo.

"It's a dream come true," Odunze said. "It's something I've been chasing since I was six years old... and I think my family's even more excited than I am."

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Following Odunze's rookie season

Fans of the franchise that drafts Odunze can look forward to a standout weapon in the passing game. Advanced metrics from Reception Perception show he stands out even at the top of the draft class at route success rate.

"I'm going to work," Odunze said. "I'm a young guy coming into a team, an organization that's been there for many years with many players going through so I'm just going to play my part and put the work in it."

He's also keen to do more than just produce on the field. Odunze noted in a recent interview on This Is Football that his locker room presence and leadership will be an emphasis early on.

"My involvement in the community as well, I feel, is second to none," he added.

He's working with Verizon this year to take fans through his experience. Verizon's following Odunze as well as Texas wide receiver Adonai "AD" Mitchell as they transition from college to the NFL in a series titled "Call to Pro," similar to the annual "Hard Knocks" documentary program .

The first part of Odunze's series will feature him making the call back home to tell Wayne and the rest of his family where he'll be playing professional football.

"He won't be able to make it to the draft because of his condition," Odunze said. "So Verizon hooked me up and that'll be the first person I call to let them know that I've been drafted."

That first part of the series will be released Friday with Odunze's social media platforms.

"I'm sure there'll be so many people I'll be connecting with," Odunze said. "The whole NFL experience is an incredible journey so they'll be right there along the way."

Ten years, eight clubs, one dream: The story of Fa'amanu Brown, rugby league's ultimate journeyman

Analysis Sport Ten years, eight clubs, one dream: The story of Fa'amanu Brown, rugby league's ultimate journeyman

Fa'amanu Brown has had plenty of days to remember though his 10-year, eight-club career in rugby league, but the past week was something new, even for him.

After securing a release from Hull FC, he flew from England on Sunday, landed in Australia on Monday, signed with St George Illawarra on Tuesday, trained with them on Thursday and played in the club's 30-12 win over the Warriors on Friday.

"I didn't think I'd play on Friday but Flanno (coach Shane Flanagan) said he'd throw me in the deep end," Brown said.

"It was surreal to get a win against a quality side like the Warriors and it was the first time we won back-to-back in a couple of years, so that's important.

"Nobody is ever going to turn down an offer to play in the NRL, even if you're straight off the plane."

Brown's move is the latest chapter of a long, winding journey that started in Christchurch and has taken the 29-year-old from Cronulla, to Canterbury, to Featherstone Rovers in the English second division, to North Sydney Bears in NSW Cup, to Wests Tigers, back to Canterbury, then to Newcastle, Hull FC and finally the Dragons.

That's nine different stints at eight different clubs across two continents and four different leagues in 11 seasons, for those of you playing at home. The Dragons are the fourth team he's played for in 18 months.

Throw in his appearances for Samoa, his belated debut for New Zealand – where he played in last year's record Pacific Championship final belting of Australia – and the fact he overcame a leg injury that left doctors telling him he'd never walk again let alone play, and it's one of the most remarkable careers in modern rugby league.

Some players might take being described as a journeyman as disparaging. Brown uses it as a sign-off on Instagram and wears it as a badge of honour. Few can match his journey, on the field or off it.

Plenty of people who have faced Brown's hardships would have retired long ago. The uncertainty of life as a rugby league vagabond isn't for everyone but Brown has been making the very most of what he's got his whole life.

"It's from my upbringing. We all face adversity on our own journeys but I grew up in a three-bedroom state house as one of nine kids. We just had to deal with what we had," Brown said.

"It's the hardships I've had to go through. I grew up in a home with domestic violence. I grew up in a house where you had to deal with what you had and I've carried that with me.

"When you're chucked in the deep end it's swim or drown and I've been put in that position my whole life.

"That's what built my resilience and my character. I'm so lucky with my family and my support base, my fiance Jordan has been with me through everything. She's been right there on the rollercoaster with me.

"There have been plenty of times when I've wanted to retire but I'm so lucky."

Brown got his first shot at the top grade back in 2014 with Cronulla as the club struggled in the grip of the ASADA scandal.

The Sharks were outscored 56-0 in his first two matches. But, as he's done so many times, Brown kept at it and Cronulla, somehow, won their following two games – overturning 22-0 and 24-0 deficits in the process.

He stayed at the Sharks until the end of 2017 – that's where he worked with Flanagan, who was instrumental in bringing him to the Dragons this season — before he headed to Canterbury and began his wandering.

"It sounds like a cliché, but I love giving back. For me, the only way out of the hood was rugby league. That was all I knew. So I have to represent people who do it tough," Brown said. 

"There's a lot of kids, some kids who come from nothing, who might be unlucky with injuries or they're down and out and think there's no way back, that's who I represent. If I can do it then, bloody hell, anyone can.

"I never left a stone unturned. You can have all the achievements in the world, but you know in your heart if you gave it your all, if you never stopped fighting."

That attitude helped Brown the most during the toughest stretch of his career in 2020 when a succession of foot injuries put his career on the brink.

Five doctors told him he'd never play again. Some of them said he'd never run again. At the same time, he was nursing his mother through the final stages of her life as she battled lung cancer.

Amid everything, he found a way to keep going. He always does. He's realised he's more than his football career, a perspective that gives him the strength to carry on in the hardest times.

"Rugby league is a part of me, but it's not all of me. I still have so much away from the game and I'm still young in the real world. I had to learn that rugby league is so important to me but it isn't me," Brown said.

"So when you go through injuries, or when you're on a string of one-year deals or you lose yourself trying to train too hard or think about it too much, you have to remember that, and you only learn it through experiences."

Brown is still hopeful of having some experiences left. He'll play for the Dragons on Anzac Day against the Roosters in front of a sold out crowd at the Sydney Football Stadium, which is one of rugby league's great occasions, and with Flanagan's coaching beginning to take effect on the Red V, who knows where this season could end up?

"When you look at the Dragons you can see that when they face adversity they play for one another, they turn up. That's something they haven't had in recent years and that's what I think Flanno has bought, that winning mentality," Brown said. 

"He knows what he's doing and a lot of the boys are trusting him and what he's trying to do."

For the time being, Brown's goals are modest. He wants to earn more minutes as he re-acclimatises to the NRL. He wants to lock down a contract for next year, to get just a little bit of security.

He's taking his career year-by-year at this point, but the end isn't in sight yet. The man is still on his journey.

"Not many people get to do this, not many people get to be in our shoes, so I was always going to take it with both hands," Brown said.

"It doesn't matter if it's one minute or 80 minutes, you get to be out there in front of 20,000 fans.

"A normal person doesn't get to experience that, so I'm so grateful for everything, I'm so grateful to be at the elite level and I believe this is where I belong.

"I'm a full believer that everything happens for a reason. With my journey you can't really write a story like this."

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Auburn Defensive Back Decides To Not Enter The Transfer Portal

The Auburn Tigers get another win in the spring transfer portal window.

• Author: Zac Blackerby

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The Auburn Tigers appear to be holding on to one of their young and talented defensive backs.

After initial reports of defensive backs Tyler Scott and Colton Hood entering the transfer portal, it now seems that Scott will be staying at Auburn.

Auburn's defensive secondary gets some of their depth back. With Scott's return, he can offer depth and support in 2024 and can compete for a larger role and potential starting spot in 2025. His role should be larger this season than a year ago when he played nine snaps against the Samford Bulldogs.

Scott came to Auburn as a four-star recruit from Mableton, GA. He is part of a loaded room that has a ton of talent and players who could deserve playing time. The assumption when the report broke earlier this week that he was entering the transfer portal was that he would look for more playing time elsewhere. Something clearly changed as he is now choosing to stay at Auburn according to reports.

Auburn has lost Hood, slot receiver Jay Fair, and buck linebacker Brenton Williams to the portal so far. The Tigers have brought in defensive linemen Philip Blidi and Isaiah Raikes to help build the interior defensive line. They also brought in Arkansas State EDGE defender Keyron Crawford to help create more of a pass rush this season. They also signed the top receiver in the portal KeAndre Lambert-Smith.

Players have until Tuesday to enter the transfer portal. This deadline does not apply to players need to be committed or signed to their new school, only the deadline to enter the portal.