Education
O'Donnell attended Palm Beach Central High School, and lettered three times in football and track.
O'Donnell attended Palm Beach Central High School, and lettered three times in football and track.
He was drafted by the Bears in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Cincinnati and the University of Miami. In high school, he averaged 45.1 yards on punts.
He also played kicker, having a 95 percent touchback rate when kicking off, along with making seven field goals as a senior. O'Donnell also played linebacker and tight end. O'Donnell was ranked a two-star recruit by Rivals.com, and committed to the University of Cincinnati on December 29, 2008.
He made his debut with the Bearcats in 2009 as a true freshman against Southeast Missouri State, and appeared in three games before suffering an injury, causing him to redshirt. O'Donnell served as starting punter in 2010 and 2011. In the latter season, the Bearcats led the nation in punting average, while O'Donnell averaged 43.8 yards per punt, while leading the nation with 17 punts of 50 yards or more.
Additionally, O'Donnell served as kicker on kickoffs, averaging 64.2 yards per kick. In 2012, O'Donnell punted an average of 41.8 yards, and was named to second team all-Big East. In 2013, O'Donnell transferred to the University of Miami, citing interests to remain close to family, as his father was suffering from cancer.
O'Donnell ended his career with Cincinnati with a 42.6 career punting average. O'Donnell graduated from Cincinnati with a degree in organizational leadership at the end of April, before transferring to Miami as a graduate student. With the Hurricanes, O'Donnell served as punter, kickoff specialist, and holder.
O'Donnell recorded a school-record 47.1 punting average, was named first-team all-ACC and the Hurricanes' Special Teams MVP at the end of 2013. O'Donnell concluded his college career with a 43.5 yard punting average. 2014 NFL Draft
At the NFL Scouting Combine, O'Donnell recorded 23 repetitions on the bench press, better than 19 running backs, 21 defensive linemen (including number one draft pick Jadeveon Clowney), and all 37 wide receivers invited.
O'Donnell was drafted by the Chicago Bears with the 191st overall pick in round 6 of the 2014 NFL Draft, the only punter selected in the draft, and the first punter selected by the Bears since Todd Sauerbrun in 1996. Chicago Bears
He signed a 4-year contract on May 13, 2014.