Despite being only a year out of high school, Caleb Odom is seeking a fresh start following his freshman year of college football. The Georgia native spent last year at Alabama before entering the transfer portal and ultimately landing in Oxford to play at Ole Miss. After a disappointing season, he is seeking to have a much bigger impact on Lane Kiffin and the Rebels.
Now following the move, the question of what went wrong during his time in Tuscaloosa remains, as well as wondering where he finds himself fitting into the Rebel offense.
Odom’s Short Stint at Alabama
After a standout career at Carrollton High School in Georgia, Odom headed to Alabama to play for Kalen DeBoer in his first year at the helm for the Crimson Tide. Coming out as a highly touted four-star prospect according to 247Sports, expectations were extremely high. This is due in large part to his ability to play multiple positions because of his size. At 6’5 and roughly 225 pounds, he’s a huge target on the outside. But he also has the ability to play the tight end position if needed, as well. At Alabama, that’s where they typically wanted him.
But in the end, it didn’t work out. Despite the expectations, he only played a total of 145 snaps. In that time, he managed to bring in only seven passes for 65 yards. A big part of this is because we saw freshman phenom Ryan Williams get a large majority of the targets from quarterback Jalen Milroe. Another problem that appeared was that he seemingly lacked the strength to block on the line. Against smaller defensive backs, he proved able, but against bigger linebackers and linemen, he struggled.
The lack of playing time seems to have left Odom feeling frustrated and disappointed, which proved to be a key part of him entering the portal and landing at Ole Miss.
Why Was Ole Miss the Choice Out of the Portal?
Following a practice earlier this week, Odom broke down his decision to enter the portal, and why Ole Miss proved to be the landing spot.
“I think, ultimately, I just wanted to be somewhere where I felt wanted and needed, and felt comfortable. So, obviously, having a relationship with Ole Miss out of high school – them being my second choice – it made sense for me to come back up here and just get to know Coach McDonald and get back up here to see Coach Kiffin and really just talk to them. So yeah, it made it easier.”
Another question he faced was how he fits into the Kiffin offense and how he expects to get utilized.
“I just want to make plays. They talked to me about how they can use me all around the field. Put me in the slot. You put me in the hip or outside wide. Put me anywhere, man. I’m just trying to make plays. I think just having those conversations with them and being told how I can get the ball in my hands is ultimately what I wanted to hear.”
Obviously, there are other reasons as well. NIL was likely a decent-sized part of the decision, as it is for most college athletes these days. While the number isn’t public, rumors at the time suggested Ole Miss made a hefty offer to land Odom. But the prior communication with Kiffin, and the wide-open nature of his offensive scheme, seem to have made Odom comfortable with his decision to head to Oxford.
What to Expect From Odom at Ole Miss
As Odom described when asked about his decision out of the portal, clearly there’s a plan for how to utilize the sophomore. After primarily lining up at tight end in Tuscaloosa, it appears that Kiffin and Ole Miss want him to transition to being a full-time receiver. With tremendous length and exceptional athleticism, to go along with solid ball skills, it’s clear that he thinks it’s a position he can excel at.
Whether it’s in the slot, running routes out of the tight end spot, or as a wideout, Odom will have opportunities to make plays. With his size, he can be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. However, he is entering a crowded receiver room that has largely been rebuilt through the portal. How many snaps, and targets, he sees is ultimately going to be decided by how quickly he can learn a new system, and put the past season at Alabama behind him.
Main Photo: Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK
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