Washington has seen an abundance of wide receiver talent in recent years, with names like Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, Ja’Lynn Polk, Giles Jackson, and Denzel Boston standing out. The Huskies now hope Omari Evans can join that list.
Evans, a 6-foot, 189-pound wide receiver from Penn State, announced on his social media Wednesday night that he will transfer to Washington for the 2025 season. He has one year of eligibility left after spending three seasons with the Nittany Lions.
His arrival brings crucial experience to a young Washington wide receiver group that recently lost former five-star recruit Johntay Cook II after his sudden departure on January 14.
During the 2024 season, Evans had 21 receptions for 415 yards and five touchdowns, helping Penn State reach the College Football Playoff semifinals. Over his three seasons with the Nittany Lions, he played in 16 games, starting six, and totaled 30 catches for 564 yards and seven touchdowns.
Evans, from Killeen, Texas, was a three-star recruit coming out of Shoemaker High, where he played cornerback and quarterback. Ranked as the No. 77 wide receiver and No. 78 player in Texas for the 2022 recruiting cycle, he chose Penn State over offers from several schools, including Arkansas, Baylor, and Washington.
Evans played in 13 games as a true freshman in 2022 and nine games during his sophomore year. In 2024, he emerged as a key contributor in Penn State’s offense, finishing third in receiving yards behind Tyler Warren, the John Mackey Award-winning tight end, and Harrison Wallace III.
Despite his production, Evans’ opportunities were limited by Penn State’s offensive system, receiving just 38 targets in 2024. However, his ability as a deep threat was evident, averaging 19.8 yards per catch, and he had the longest reception of the season for the Nittany Lions, a 59-yard touchdown against Kent State.
At Washington, Evans joins a group of wide receivers aiming to replace two of the team’s three starters. Both Giles Jackson and Jeremiah Hunter ran out of eligibility after the Sun Bowl.
Evans could fill the role of Hunter, who caught 36 passes for 490 yards and a touchdown in his lone season at Washington. Though Evans is slightly shorter and lighter than Hunter, his experience on the outside may give him an advantage over sophomore Rashid Williams, who backed up Hunter in 2024.
Washington also signed a strong 2025 recruiting class of wide receivers, including four-star recruits Deji Ajose, Marcus Harris, Chris Lawson, Dezmen Roebuck, and Raiden Vines-Bright, some of whom enrolled for the winter quarter.
