He watched one of his friends that set him up with accurate passes in Rose Bowl practices leave the University of Alabama via the NCAA transfer portal, but he remained with the program.
Caleb Odom, a five-star freshman from Carrollton, Ga., arrived to the Crimson Tide as a tight end.
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The 6-foot-5 specimen is now a wide receiver and is expected to contribute as a first-year player.
He could have easily transferred to a different, but something about Odom would not allow him to leave the Tide. He wants to compete among the best and has a coaching staff pushing him to become an elite playmaker. Odom had a very good spring and has an opportunity to Alabama’s first big-bodied target to pan out since Julio Jones.
He explained to Roger Hoover of Crimson Tide Sports Network why he chose to stay in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Odom said he came to Alabama because he knew this is the place where he could make it to the NFL.
“I came here because it’s the @UofAlabama and here I can make it to the @NFL.”
– @AlabamaFTBL WR @calebodomm on staying committed to the Crimson Tide.@Roger_Hoover‘s Full Interview on Thursday’s Crimson Drive driven by @NASCAR at 2 pm on @UA_CTSN: https://t.co/tgBThLFHXX pic.twitter.com/rPRVB6sRKS— Crimson Tide Sports Network (@UA_CTSN) May 30, 2024
“It never crossed my mind,” Odom said about potentially transferring after Saban retired.
“I called my mom after Saban retired and I told her that Saban retired. She almost started crying and then she asked, ‘what does this mean for you?’ I said, ‘ I don’t know mom. All I know is that I am locked in.’ It has never been a business for me. I have always been like when I made this commitment I made it, and I never thought about flipping once.”
Odom is ten toes down on the Crimson Tide and fans love that about him.
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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.
