TigerSportsReports.com recently covered the "Battle of the 'Boro", which featured cross-town Murfreesboro, Tennessee rivals, Oakland and Riverdale High Schools. The two perennial football powerhouses possess several college prospects, including Class of 2017 four-stars, JaCoby Stevens and Gentry Bonds.
One player whose athletic ability could not be missed based on just a few plays, was Riverdale Class of '17 athlete Marqwell Odom. Despite being only 5-foot-8 inches and 160 pounds, Odom's explosion and speed is dynamic and game-changing. The high school junior definitely has tantalizing ability on the next level when matched into a fitting offensive system.
Late in the second quarter, the Warriors went to the Wildcat formation, with Odom as the feature back. He had two strong runs including a touchdown scamper, but the jaw-dropping aspect to the plays was Odom's lightning like quickness, and his ability to hit an extra gear. Of all the high level athletic plays during the game, Odom's liftoff might have been the most impressive.
"I have more quickness than speed," Odom said. "But I am explosive in the open field. I like to work in space. Even in the Wildcat where the defenders are closer to me, I can still make people miss."
Odom says he patterns himself after Isaiah McKenzie of the Georgia Bulldogs. "We are the same size. He goes hard every play despite his lack of size, and he is really quick."
Not surprisingly, Odom is beginning to hear from Division I college programs within a two-hundred mile range. Although he hasn't received any official scholarship offers yet, he is hearing from Western Kentucky, Memphis, Vanderbilt, and Louisville.
Odom gave Rivals the following feedback about a couple of those schools.
Vanderbilt - "I visited Vanderbilt for the Western Kentucky game. It was nice. The game was on a Thursday night, so I didn't get to take a big tour. That's why I plan on going back for another game this season so I can get the full experience. I'm going to take another visit in November for the Texas A&M game."
"I saw them play Ole Miss on television, and I like how they competed. Coach Mason gives them energy. I would like to play for a coach like that,"
Odom said he isn't in contact with the Commodore coaches yet, but he receives mail from them around three times a week.
Memphis - "The Memphis coaches direct message me, and they want me to take a visit. I like the energy and the swagger that they play with. The offense puts up a lot of points quickly, and I like that. They put their offensive players in space, and that's the kind of system I like to play in. I definitely plan on taking a visit to Memphis."
Western Kentucky - "I visited there when they played MTSU. It was a nice visit. I went with some local players, and it felt like home. They also have a high scoring offense that plays a lot like Memphis. I met with Coach (JaMarcus) Shepard and Coach (Ricky) Brumfield. Coach Shepard told me the coaches like my film, but he couldn't promise me anything. I wasn't sure what that meant at the time, but I feel now like they'll offer me."
Odom says the Hilltoppers have given him the option of playing several different positions, but he says he wants to play slot receiver. "I love having the ball in my hands."
No matter where Odom plays his college ball, the team who spreads the field will have an advantage to gain his services.
"The spread is a good fit for me. I can get the ball in the open field. My strength is playing in a one-on-one situation. I excel when it's one-on-one."
One player whose athletic ability could not be missed based on just a few plays, was Riverdale Class of '17 athlete Marqwell Odom. Despite being only 5-foot-8 inches and 160 pounds, Odom's explosion and speed is dynamic and game-changing. The high school junior definitely has tantalizing ability on the next level when matched into a fitting offensive system.
Late in the second quarter, the Warriors went to the Wildcat formation, with Odom as the feature back. He had two strong runs including a touchdown scamper, but the jaw-dropping aspect to the plays was Odom's lightning like quickness, and his ability to hit an extra gear. Of all the high level athletic plays during the game, Odom's liftoff might have been the most impressive.
"I have more quickness than speed," Odom said. "But I am explosive in the open field. I like to work in space. Even in the Wildcat where the defenders are closer to me, I can still make people miss."
Odom says he patterns himself after Isaiah McKenzie of the Georgia Bulldogs. "We are the same size. He goes hard every play despite his lack of size, and he is really quick."
Not surprisingly, Odom is beginning to hear from Division I college programs within a two-hundred mile range. Although he hasn't received any official scholarship offers yet, he is hearing from Western Kentucky, Memphis, Vanderbilt, and Louisville.
Odom gave Rivals the following feedback about a couple of those schools.
Vanderbilt - "I visited Vanderbilt for the Western Kentucky game. It was nice. The game was on a Thursday night, so I didn't get to take a big tour. That's why I plan on going back for another game this season so I can get the full experience. I'm going to take another visit in November for the Texas A&M game."
"I saw them play Ole Miss on television, and I like how they competed. Coach Mason gives them energy. I would like to play for a coach like that,"
Odom said he isn't in contact with the Commodore coaches yet, but he receives mail from them around three times a week.
Memphis - "The Memphis coaches direct message me, and they want me to take a visit. I like the energy and the swagger that they play with. The offense puts up a lot of points quickly, and I like that. They put their offensive players in space, and that's the kind of system I like to play in. I definitely plan on taking a visit to Memphis."
Western Kentucky - "I visited there when they played MTSU. It was a nice visit. I went with some local players, and it felt like home. They also have a high scoring offense that plays a lot like Memphis. I met with Coach (JaMarcus) Shepard and Coach (Ricky) Brumfield. Coach Shepard told me the coaches like my film, but he couldn't promise me anything. I wasn't sure what that meant at the time, but I feel now like they'll offer me."
Odom says the Hilltoppers have given him the option of playing several different positions, but he says he wants to play slot receiver. "I love having the ball in my hands."
No matter where Odom plays his college ball, the team who spreads the field will have an advantage to gain his services.
"The spread is a good fit for me. I can get the ball in the open field. My strength is playing in a one-on-one situation. I excel when it's one-on-one."
