George Odum
{{Short description|American football player (born 1993)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = George Odum
| image = George Odum.png
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Odum with the Colts in 2019
| current_team = San Francisco 49ers
| number = 30
| position = Safety
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|11|3}}
| birth_place = Millington, Tennessee, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lbs = 202
| high_school = Millington Central
| college = Central Arkansas (2013–2017)
| undraftedyear = 2018
| pastteams =
- Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2018|2021}})
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2022}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- First-team All-Pro (2020)
- Second-team All-Pro (2022)
- FCS All-American (2017)
- 2× first-team All-SLC (2016, 2017)
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 200
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 = 4
| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue4 = 2
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 = 9
| statlabel6 = Interceptions
| statvalue6 = 3
| pfr = O/OdumGe00
}}
George Odum (born November 3, 1993) is an American professional football safety and special teamer for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Central Arkansas Bears before signing with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Odum was named to the 2020 and 2022 All-Pro Team for his special team play.
Early life
Odum was born and raised in Millington, Tennessee, and attended Millington Central High School, where he was a star athlete both in football and track.{{cite web|url=http://millington-news.com/2018/11/08/by-george-hes-got-it-mchs-honors-odum-with-retirement-of-no-5-jersey/|title=By George, He's Got It! MCHS honors Odum with retirement of No. 5 jersey|first=Thomas|last=Sellers, Jr.|work=The Millington Star|date=September 8, 2018|access-date=May 7, 2019}} As a senior, he was an All-Region selection at defensive back and punt returner and participated in the 2012 Tennessee vs. Kentucky National Guard and AutoZone Liberty Bowl All-Star Games.{{cite web|url=http://millington-news.com/2018/04/30/breaking-news-former-trojan-db-george-odum-signs-colts/|title=BREAKING NEWS: Former Trojan DB George Odum signs with Colts|first=Thomas|last=Sellers, Jr.|work=The Millington Star|date=April 30, 2018|access-date=May 7, 2019}}
College career
Odum played five seasons for the Central Arkansas Bears, redshirting his true freshman season. He played both linebacker and safety and finished fourth in school history with 350 career tackles. He was named first-team All-Southland Conference after making 86 tackles (58 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, four passes defensed, one interception (returned for a touchdown), four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two blocked kick. As a senior, Odum led the Bears in tackles and was named Southland Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus All-America selection after recording 120 tackles (78 solo), 8.0 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, two passes defensed, and one forced fumble.{{cite web|url=https://www.flofootball.com/articles/6075741-8-defenders-to-keep-an-eye-on-at-the-tropical-bowl|title=8 Defenders To Keep An Eye On At The Tropical Bowl|first=Kolby|last=Paxton|work=FloFootball.com|date=January 9, 2018|access-date=October 31, 2018}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 1
| weight = 201
| dash = 4.45
| ten split = 1.53
| twenty split = 2.68
| shuttle = 4.19
| cone drill = 7.00
| vertical = 33.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 10
| bench = 22
| arm span = 32 3/8
| hand span = 9 1/2
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=127848&DraftYear=2018 |title=2018 NFL Draft Scout George Odum College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=April 6, 2024}}
}}
=Indianapolis Colts=
Odum was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2018, and made the team out of training camp.{{cite web|title=Colts Sign 10 Undrafted Free Agents|url=https://www.colts.com/news/article-1/Colts-Sign-10-Undrafted-Free-Agents/ac6d6284-f148-4def-90b5-38648a8d529d|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503113143/https://www.colts.com/news/article-1/Colts-Sign-10-Undrafted-Free-Agents/ac6d6284-f148-4def-90b5-38648a8d529d|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 3, 2018|website=Colts.com|date=May 1, 2018|access-date=September 29, 2018}} Odum made his NFL debut on September 9, 2018, against the Cincinnati Bengals, playing on special teams.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201809090clt.htm#all_vis_snap_counts|title=Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts-September 9th, 2018-Snap counts|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=October 3, 2018}} Odum made his first career start on November 18, 2018, after an injury to safety Malik Hooker in a 38–10 win against the Tennessee Titans and made 6 tackles, including one for a loss.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/colts-george-odum-draws-start-sunday/|title=Colts' George Odum: Draws start Sunday|work=RotoWire|publisher=CBS Sports|date=November 19, 2018}} Odum recorded his first career interception by picking off a pass from Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in a 23–0 win on December 16, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.colts.com/news/live-game-story-colts-take-on-the-cowboys|title=Colts Blank The Cowboys, 23-0|first=Andrew|last=Walker|website=Colts.com|date=December 16, 2018|access-date=December 16, 2018}} In his rookie season, Odum played in all 16 games for the Colts (two starts) with 36 total tackles, including one for loss, an interception and two passes defended.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OdumGe00.htm|title=George Odum Stats|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=April 23, 2019}}
In 2019, Odum again played in all 16 of the Colts' games and recorded 37 tackles with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. Odum made one start during the season against the Kansas City Chiefs, making six tackles and forcing a fumble in a 19–13 victory.{{cite web|url=https://coltswire.usatoday.com/2019/10/07/indianapolis-colts-kansas-city-chiefs-stock-up-stock-down-week-5/|title=Stock up, stock down in Colts' 19-13 win over Chiefs|first=Kevin|last=Hickey|date=October 7, 2019|access-date=October 5, 2020}}
Odum saw only 25 total snaps on defense in 2020, but led the NFL with 20 special teams tackles and was named first-team All-Pro as a special teamer.{{cite web|url=https://www.colts.com/news/all-pro-deforest-buckner-darius-leonard-quenton-nelson-george-odum-2020|title=Six Colts Players Named To AP All-Pro Team|website=Colts.com|date=January 8, 2021|access-date=January 8, 2021}} The Colts placed a restricted free agent tender on Odum on March 17, 2021.{{cite news |author=Williams, Charean |title=Darious Williams only one of 26 RFAs in NFL to receive first-round tender |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/03/17/darious-williams-only-one-of-26-rfas-in-nfl-to-receive-first-round-tender/|website=NBCSports.com|date=March 17, 2021 |access-date=March 17, 2021}} He signed the one-year contract on April 19.{{cite news |author=Stankevitz, JJ |title=Zach Pascal, George Odum Re-Sign As Restricted Free Agents |url=https://www.colts.com/news/nfl-free-agency-zach-pascal-george-odum-resign-restricted-free-agents |website=Colts.com |date=April 19, 2021 |access-date=April 19, 2021}}
In 2021, Odum saw more playing time on defensive due to injuries in the Colts' secondary. He started seven games and played 43% of the team's total defensive snaps during the season. Odum finished the year with 55 total tackles, two passes defended, and one interception with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.{{cite web|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/03/18/report-49ers-to-sign-george-odum/|title=Report: 49ers to sign George Odum|first=Josh|last=Alper|website=ProFootballTalk.com|publisher=NBC Sports|date=March 18, 2022|access-date=March 18, 2022}} Odum became an unrestricted free agent after the season ended.{{cite web|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2022/01/10/colts-free-agents-2022-28-have-expiring-contracts/9085033002/|title=Colts free agents 2022: 28 have expiring contracts|work=Indianapolis Star|date=January 10, 2022|access-date=March 18, 2022}}
=San Francisco 49ers=
On March 22, 2022, Odum signed a three-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers. After the season, he was named an All–Pro for the second time.{{Cite web|title=49ers Sign S George Odum|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-sign-s-george-odum|website=49ers.com|date=March 22, 2022|access-date=March 22, 2022|archive-date=March 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322222212/https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-sign-s-george-odum|url-status=dead}} He was placed on injured reserve on November 27, 2023.{{Cite web|title=49ers Activate DL Beal Jr.; Place S George Odum on Injured Reserve|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-activate-dl-beal-jr-place-s-george-odum-on-injured-reserve|publisher=49ers.com|date=November 27, 2023|access-date=November 28, 2023}} He was activated on January 20, 2024.
On March 13, 2024, Odum signed a two-year contract extension through the 2026 season.{{cite web|title=49ers Release Arik Armstead, Re-Sign Quarterback and Other Moves|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/free-agency-arik-armstead-colton-mckivitz-george-odum-brandon-allen-quarterback-dl|website=49ers.com|date=March 13, 2024|access-date=March 13, 2024}} On December 7, 2024, Odum was placed on injured reserve.{{cite web|title=49ers Activate S Talanoa Hufanga from IR, Downgrade DL Nick Bosa to OUT vs. Bears and More Roster Moves|url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-activate-s-talanoa-hufanga-from-ir-downgrade-dl-nick-bosa-to-out-vs-bears-and-more-roster-moves|website=49ers.com|date=December 7, 2024|access-date=December 8, 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons}}
- [https://www.49ers.com/team/players-roster/george-odum/ San Francisco 49ers bio]
- [https://ucasports.com/sports/football/roster/george-odum/4935 Central Arkansas Bears bio]
{{San Francisco 49ers roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Odum, George}}
Category:People from Millington, Tennessee
Category:Players of American football from Shelby County, Tennessee
Category:American football safeties
Category:Central Arkansas Bears football players
Category:Indianapolis Colts players