Barry Odom staying with Razorbacks? Players hint at a return for popular DC
Arkansas defensive coordinator Barry Odom quickly became popular among the Razorbacks fan base starting when the Hogs knocked off Mississippi State as his eight-man coverage in the secondary stymied the Air Raid offense.
But since the regular season ended, Odom has been popular with other head coaches, and has been reportedly in the mix for open defensive coordinator jobs at LSU and Texas.
But according to tweets from Arkansas defenders, it appears that Odom is returning to Fayetteville.
Odom’s initial salary with Arkansas was reported to be $1.2 million, so if the reports are true, look for coach Sam Pittman to sweeten Odom’s compensation going forward as he gets set for another season at Arkansas.
After he was fired at Missouri, and before he joined Pittman’s staff at Arkansas, Odom was reportedly a candidate to take over the Memphis head coaching position.
In his last season with Missouri, Odom’s Tigers ended the 2019 regular season as one of the nation’s top defenses, ranking 14th in the country in total defense (312.0 ypg) and third in the SEC. The Razorbacks’ defense was 11th in the SEC in 2020.
Under Odom, the Razorbacks this past season allowed 34.9 points per game, an average of two better than in 2019.
Unfinished business…#Runitback🔂 pic.twitter.com/rn7CiRANOx
— Jalen Catalon (@jcatalon27) January 5, 2021
THEY THOUGHT 😂 #WPS
— Joe Foucha👽 (@Joe_Foucha) January 5, 2021
Looking back at the rumors like : 👀 Let’s Run It Back ✌🏽#WPS pic.twitter.com/Kmqvo3qYyz
— Jermaine Hamilton-Jordan (@_Jermaine36) January 5, 2021
Better lock him down with a nice bonus. Barry is a good guy, a loyal guy. You take care of those who will take care of you. Would love to have him as a DC at Mizzou but that would be a step backward too soon if ever for him. He’s a player’s coach, his boys will play for him.
I think we will give him and Carter a bonus or incentive filled contacts cause people seem to be indicating that Cooper would follow Odom if he left. I’m elated he decided to stay and I’m hearing their pushing out your current DC who would want to replace him if you could?
So didn’t see this til now. Walters was kept,IMO, to keep the defense intact and to be given a chance to show what he could do w/out Odom hovering over him. Given the opt outs, covid, not really a fair season for any coach to be judged on but that didn’t stop the SEC. I will say that given Drinkwitz’s record, he’ll go with one of his Eskimo brothers or one of theirs (someone in his pedigree lineage or associated with it). Most likely young and up and comer. Won’t be a former HC or anyone who would usurp or challenge his leadership. He wants team players who get on the page quickly. I think Walter was also an odd man out who may have never quite fit in. White is being mentioned on our boards but thats more of the guessing game.
I was thinking Walters would’ve got another season but like you said about the circumstances at hand I see why it went the way it did. I hear some people saying he was forced out but I highly doubt that cause Drink seems like he would’ve run it back with him at DC one more time before deciding to cut him loose. No matter who he chooses I agree it wont be someone that would be so bold as too challenge his direction of where he want his defense to look like.
King Barry would never leave us
Yea he’s an Arky guy, oh, wait, no he’s an Oki. lol