Alabama Freshman Caleb Odom is "Pretty" as He Transitions to Wide Receiver

Tight ends coach Bryan Ellis said the freshman phenom's positiion was changed before he was hired on staff.

The Alabama football program continued spring practice on Tuesday, finishing day number seven with practice inside the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility. Everything is new inside the Mal Moore Athletic facility under head coach Kalen DeBeor and excitement is palpable for the upcoming year.

The Alabama offense expects to be high-flying this fall as DeBeor brings his vertical passing game to Tuscaloosa. This emphasizes pass catchers of all shapes and sizes to challenge opposing defenses in a variety of ways.

One of the pass catchers with the most unique body-types is incoming freshman Caleb Odom. Odom was recruited out of Carrollton High School in Georgia as an elite tight end but quickly changed to wide receiver. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound freshman has wowed both coaches and teammates with his athleticism and ability through just a handful of spring practices.

"That was a switch [From Tight End to Wide Receiver] made before I even got here. He's pretty, I'd love to have him," said Alabama tight end's coach Bryan Ellis on Tuesday. "He's doing great at wideout right now and he'll do well wherever he plays. He's a heck of an athlete."

The early enrollee stands a full four inches taller than the next tallest receiver in the position group but his size isn't hindering his ability to get in and out of breaks.

"Caleb Odom's got some smooth routes. He's a bigger guy, most bigger guys don't move like Caleb Odom, but he can move," said Alabama wide receiver Kobe Prentice.

It will be interesting to see how Odom fits into the offensive scheme and if he can crack the receiving rotation, but if he can DeBoer has shown he can utilize bigger-bodied receivers in his offense. First-round draft prospect Rome Odunze hauled in 92 passes for 1640 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Washington Huskies this past season standing at 6-foot-3, 215-pounds.

"It's really great, kind of like a cheat code, especially Odom. 6-5, moving like us, getting in and out of his breaks kind of like us. Great to have, kind of like on Madden when you throw it up to D.K. Metcalf on the goal line. You know you've got a bigger guy, he's going to come down with it."

There are still seven more practices until the Crimson Tide hits the field for A-Day, leaving plenty of time for players to stand out at practice, but no matter where Odom lands on the depth chart for the final Saturday scrimmage there will be heightened attention placed on his snaps as his size sends the imagination running wild with possibilities for a major impact on the Alabama offense this fall.