Odum making move worthwhile

Central Arkansas linebacker George Odum (31) had a team-high 11 tackles during a 49-21 victory over Northwestern (La.) State on Sept. 26 in Natchitoches, La.
Central Arkansas linebacker George Odum (31) had a team-high 11 tackles during a 49-21 victory over Northwestern (La.) State on Sept. 26 in Natchitoches, La.

CONWAY -- George Odum didn't accumulate his usual eye-raising statistics in last week's victory over Abilene Christian.

Central Arkansas' sophomore "rover" entered last week's game as one of the Southland Conference's leading tacklers. He had nine in each of UCA's first two games and a team-high 11 with 1 1/2 tackles for loss in a 49-21 victory over Northwestern (La.) State.

Odum played more than 3 1/2 quarters last Saturday without recording a tackle. It wasn't until the game was well in hand with UCA leading 42-14 and Abilene Christian on its final drive that Odum corralled receiver Jonathan Epps after an 11-yard gain for his only tackle of the game.

"They ran the ball the opposite way the whole game," a smiling Odum said earlier this week, knowing that his contribution to the Bears was evident even without recording lofty tackling statistics.

It also might be an indication of how well Odum has played through the season's first month.

"They know where he's at," defensive coordinator Greg Stewart said.

Even without the tackles, Stewart said Odum's performance Saturday might have been his best in his 16 games with the Bears (2-2, 2-0), who are going for their second consecutive 3-0 start in conference place when they face Houston Baptist at 2:30 p.m. today in Houston.

"He had his highest grade," Stewart said. "He played his best technique. He didn't have an opportunity to make any plays, but he graded out at 90 percent. So he was doing what he was supposed to do."

That has become expected of Odum, who was so good while sharing UCA's rover spot last year that Stewart and Coach Steve Campbell gave it to him full time in the spring and have watched him blossom. Odom was second on the team with 77 tackles last year while sharing the spot with Dillon Winfrey, who was moved to cornerback in the spring so Odum could have the spot to himself.

He hasn't diminished while full time in the role. Heading into today, Odum's 21 unassisted tackles rank fifth in the Southland and his 30 total tackles rank 12th to lead a defense that is holding its first two conference opponents to 17.5 points and 309.0 yards per game.

"I love to set the tempo early," Odum said. "Make sure that they know I'm there, that I'm the dominant player on the field."

At the very least, he's become close to a perfect fit as a rover in Stewart's 3-4 defense.

A rover -- which is similar to a nickel back in other defensive formations -- is one of the toughest players for a defensive coordinator to find. The player has to be big enough to defend the run, athletic enough to defend the pass and smart enough to know when to do what.

Odum isn't the prototype -- Stewart said he could put weight onto his 6-2, 185-pound frame -- but he fits in just about every other area.

"You can find guys that are fast enough, but they're not physical enough," Campbell said. "Then you can find guys who can knock the tar out of you but can't run. George is a special breed."

Odum put the mind-set needed for the position another way.

"You can't be soft," he said. "If you're soft, you're going to get beat."

Campbell and Stewart were quick to find that out, too.

Odum started last season as a redshirt freshman backup to Winfrey at rover. He started three games while Winfrey dealt with a minor ankle injury and said he felt like he improved each game. In the season finale he totaled 15 tackles in a season-ending loss to Sam Houston State.

That led Campbell and Stewart to hand over the rover spot to Odum in the spring.

"He pretty much said, 'That's mine, and can't nobody have it,' " Stewart said. "You could just see it. Every time the ball was snapped he was [making plays]."

Now not only is Odum in his rightful spot, but Winfrey is at corner where coaches think he belongs. Campbell called it a "best case scenario."

"I think everybody is where they're supposed to be now," Stewart said.

Sports on 10/10/2015

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