He developed into a five-star athlete at Carrollton (Ga.) High School, but Caleb Odom is about to unleash his unbelievable playmaking abilities at the University of Alabama.
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The 6-foot-5 specimen looked impressive during the Crimson Tide’s bowl practices for Michigan to finish 2023; however, he’s turning heads in spring practice as a wide receiver. Odom arrived in the 2024 signing class as an elite tight end, but the position change allows him to be more explosive in Kalen DeBoer’s offense. The 215-pounder wears No. 18 and has coaches and teammates marveling at his physicality, route running, speed, and hands to catch passes.
Kendrick Law, a junior wide receiver from Louisiana, confirmed to Alabama reporters on Friday that Odom is ‘no longer a tight end.’
He is very impressed with Odom.
“Caleb Odom is a wide receiver. He is not a tight end…When I look at him, I kind of see George Pickens.”
Kendrick Law loves what he is seeing from Alabama freshman, Caleb Odom. pic.twitter.com/mggb6kanYe
— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) March 9, 2024
“Caleb Odom is a wide receiver,” Law said.
“Caleb is elite. He is the biggest receiver we have — height wise — he is he most aggressive guy. When I look at him, I see George Pickens. He is really aggressive at the line, he has strong hands, and he goes up and attacks the ball.”
Pickens, a native of Hoover, Ala., played three seasons at the University of Georgia from 2019 to 2021. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder helped the Bulldogs to a 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship.He went on to become a second-round selection by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2022 NFL Draft. Pickens had a career year last season with 63 receptions for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns. He prides himself on physicality and making contest catches. Law says Odom brings the same skill set to the Tide.
Nick Sheridan, Alabama’s co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, loves Odom’s potential at receiver.
Alabama OC/QB coach Nick Sheridan on moving 5-star freshman Caleb Odom to WR:
“We wanted to put him in a position where he can be successful. He’s a big kid, very athletic, and very explosive.”
We may be seeing Odom have an impact on A-Day and in the fall.@TDAlabamaMag pic.twitter.com/VsRhI72G8q
— Stephen M. Smith (@CoachingMSmith) March 9, 2024
“We are trying to put him [Caleb Odom] in a position to be successful,” Sheridan said Friday.
“He is a big kid, very athletic, very explosive, and he has a great frame. I think time will tell what he turns into being and how his body grows when he’s 20, 21, 22 years old, but he runs plenty good enough to play wide receiver. He runs very well, he is a big target, so we are trying to position him early on to not run into 275-pound people. We want to have him in a position where he can have success, and I think there is so much versatility in our offense… we are trying to utilize his strengths to be successful. He comes from a great program and is accustomed to playing football at a high level. The moment has not been too big with him.”
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Sheridan said Odom has ‘fit right in’ as a receiver.
He caught 64 passes for 1,121 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in his junior season at Carrollton while excelling on the basketball court.
Alabama fans will have their attention on Odom in the upcoming A-Day Game.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
