Chris Odom, Edge, Arkansas State
WHY HE’S A SLEEPER
Chris Odom dominated the Sun Belt competition in his lone season as a starter at Arkansas State, leading the conference with 12.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss.
Odom displays good balance around the corner, making tight, low turns to dip under the opposing tackle and get to the quarterback. Using strong hands and a powerful, churning lower body, Odom delivers a powerful bull rush that makes it appear as if an offensive tackle has been shot in the chest.
Odom’s father, Cliff, spent thirteen seasons as an NFL linebacker with the Browns, Colts, and Dolphins. The NFL pedigree is evident when you observe Odom’s fit 6’4”, 263 pound frame.
WHY HE’LL BE AVAILABLE
There is the issue of dominating lower competition. When matched up against teams like Auburn or prospects like Troy’s Antonio Garcia, Odom’s impact was noticeably quieter. Describing Odom as ‘over-matched’ in those games wouldn’t be correct, but the competitive jump in those games did leave me feeling like he was a bit shell-shocked at times.
Odom’s snap reaction is slow enough that even a casual viewer will notice he’s frequently the last out of his stance. Though he displays great balance and is a sound technician, he doesn’t ‘wow’ with his athleticism.
SUMMATION
A number of analysts have Odom as an UDFA, which I don’t believe is correct. There are flaws, and he’s certainly not a top-100 player, but Odom is a smart, powerful edge with the potential to find a home in this league as a reliable left defensive end.
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