Phazahn Odom realizes he's representing a school and a tight-knight college conference
Obviously the Fordham product wants to know his own fate first today, that goes without saying, but he's also quietly cheering on fellow Patriot League product Julie'n Davenport, who will undoubtedly be drafted today. Odom says that's part of the brotherhood within the league, it's something he has picked up on over the years playing in the conference. He would like to give Patriot League fans something to cheer about by becoming only the second Fordham player drafted in nearly 50 years.
Thanks to his 6-foot-8, 251-pound frame and his Pro Day measurables, he has a strong chance of hearing exactly that. NFLDraftScout.com lists him as anything from a 7th round choice to a free agent.
It all started five years ago. Odom is from Barnwell, S.C., just southeast of Augusta, Ga. and southwest of the state capitol of South Carolina, Columbia.
"Recruiting is funny," Odom told HERO Sports. "Honestly, I had no idea how Fordham found me or my tape of my senior year of high school. My senior year was my first true year of playing football, and I never really had any film out. So I put out my first three games, and The Citadel, Coastal Carolina and Jacksonville State noticed. I was talking to them, and then Fordham came along."
Since then, things have progressed well. One thing is for certain, the service academies — Navy and Army? — they're glad Odom will be training in an NFL camp this year as opposed to creating a mismatch against them. He played particularly well against those two FBS programs the past two seasons. He finished his Fordham career with 56 catches for 740 yards and 9 TDs.
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Today, Odom will be tune in, phone in hand, to see if he gets some news during the NFL Draft broadcast. And if not? He'll have free agency options to explore. So it's a good news weekend, that much is for sure.
"It is fantastic," Odom said. "I was just talking to my mother about that, how I'm going to get to represent my mother, my small town and Fordham. Honestly, coming out of high school it was always about patience. When I got to Fordham, I was still just learning how to play the game. But I was lucky enough to learn behind an all-american with Dan Light. I watched how he prepared for games and learned. If you stay humble and keep working hard, anything is possible."
Odom said it's tough to tell which NFL team is most interested, but two teams stand out slightly — the Cardinals and 49ers. They've told him they like how he moves for a 6-foot-8 guy, that he moves smoothly and his catch radius may be his biggest attribute … basically meaning he's like a human spider web, snagging anything straying into his area code. NFL coaches drool over that sort of thing.
He said he can't wait to represent Barnwell, S.C. … Fordham University … the Patriot League … and the FCS.
