Bears wide receiver hosts youth camp in Champaign

Yahoo

4 days ago

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze was host to a youth football camp in Champaign on Saturday.
The camp, put on in partnership with Flex Work Sports, welcomed more than 400 kids to St. Thomas More High School.
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There was also a surprise guest appearance from another Bears player: Wide receiver DJ Moore.
Moore, who led the Bears in receiving yards on the 2024 season, showed up unannounced.
'He did not have to do that,' Odunze said. 'I didn't tell him I was doing a camp out here. I didn't tell anybody to come out just because it was a little bit of a ways from where everybody is at. That's my guy, that's my brother. He came out here with his family so it's always good to see them, they're doing well. So it means a lot to me that DJ would come out here but that's the Bears organization and all the guys there are very heartfelt and meaningful in that way. So, DJ's my guy, appreciate him.'
'I love Rome,' Moore told WCIA. 'Rome came to my camps so had to show the same respect and make my way out here with my family.'
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It's one of a handful of camps Odunze is hosting over the 2025 offseason. He'll be in Rockford, Ill. for another one on Sunday, July 13.
'I have a lot of fun, of course, just giving back to them,' he said. 'Them having an opportunity to come out here and work hard, meet somebody in the NFL – That's what it's about. So, hopefully it provides them some sort of inspiration because I know they inspire me with all their energy and all their excitement.'
As for the 2025 season, which will be Odunze's second in the NFL and the Bears' first under new head coach, he says the excitement is visible.
'Everybody is fired up, as they should be,' he said. 'We're building excitement and anticipation for the season and it's deservingly so. Exciting times, lots of changes… I think we have the right pieces to put it all together…'
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The camp consisted of various drills, 7-on-7 games with Odunze at quarterback and photos/autographs.
Mason Davis attended the camp from Monticello and left with a lasting memory.
'I caught a touchdown pass from Rome,' Davis said. 'He's a lot taller than I expected, but he was amazing today.'
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