Washington has seen an abundance of talented wide receivers in recent years, with standouts like Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, Ja’Lynn Polk, Giles Jackson, and Denzel Boston. Now, the Huskies are hoping that Omari Evans can make his mark as part of that legacy.
Evans, a 6-foot, 189-pound wide receiver from Penn State, announced on social media Wednesday night that he will transfer to Washington for the 2025 season.
The Texas native has one year of eligibility remaining after spending three seasons with the Nittany Lions. He brings valuable experience to a young UW receiving group, which recently lost former five-star recruit Johntay Cook II after he unexpectedly left the team on January 14.
Evans had a strong 2024 season, recording 21 catches for 415 yards and five touchdowns as Penn State advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Over his career with the Nittany Lions, he played in 16 games, starting six, and totaled 30 receptions for 564 yards and seven touchdowns. After Penn State’s 27-24 Orange Bowl loss to Notre Dame, Evans entered the transfer portal.
A former three-star recruit from Killeen, Texas, Evans was ranked as the No. 77 wide receiver and No. 78 player in Texas in the 2022 class. He chose Penn State over offers from schools like Vanderbilt, Rutgers, Arkansas, and others.
Evans played in 13 games as a freshman, nine in his sophomore year, and emerged as a key player in 2024, ranking third on the team in receiving yards behind Tyler Warren and Harrison Wallace III.
His 19.8 yards per catch led the team, but he had fewer opportunities due to the offensive system, receiving just 38 targets in 2024. He was primarily used as a deep threat, with an average depth of target of 20.8 yards and a career-long 59-yard touchdown against Kent State.
At Washington, Evans will join a receiving corps that needs to replace two starting receivers, Jackson and Jeremiah Hunter, both of whom ran out of eligibility.
Evans could step into a role similar to Hunter’s, who caught 36 passes for 490 yards and a touchdown last season. While Evans is slightly smaller than Hunter, he has experience playing on the outside, which could give him an advantage over sophomore Rashid Williams, who was Hunter’s backup.
Washington also signed several highly rated wide receivers in its 2025 recruiting class, including four-star prospects Deji Ajose, Marcus Harris, Chris Lawson, Dezmen Roebuck, and Raiden Vines-Bright, all of whom have already enrolled.