Caleb Odom sees tremendous opportunity for TEs in Baker's offense
OXFORD – Although Ole Miss junior tight end Caleb Odom has been officially indoctrinated into the tight end life style, he still thinks of himself without a positional label.
He’s certainly doing what he can to look the part of a tight end, though.
Odom is entering his second season at Ole Miss after beginning his career as a star recruit at Alabama . Odom transferred to the Rebels last offseason having primarily been a wide receiver with the Crimson Tide but was moved to tight end before the 2025 season began, due in no small part to a loaded wide receiver room consisting of De’Zhaun Stribling, Harrison Wallace III, Cayden Lee and Deuce Alexander, among others.
The transition wasn’t always easy, though Odom made modest contributions last season – he caught 19 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns, his reception total good for eighth among all Ole Miss pass catchers and second among tight ends behind Dae’Quan Wright.
Odom said he played last season at around 227 or 228 pounds. The 6-foot-5 Georgia native is up to around 240 pounds this spring and is hoping to reach 245. There was no secret to his weight gain, Odom said. Mostly just a timely spring break.
“I’m not going to lie, it was kind of easy for me, and I say that, I’m … very, very glad it was,” Odom said with a smile. “But I remember before spring break this year I was sitting at like 230. … And I just remember spring break, I had just ate a lot, and I was just eating random food. Honestly I wasn’t on … (a) diet count, no like calorie count. I was just eating. And I came back and I was like 238, 237, and so I … just kept eating protein shakes at night, just making sure I feel full before I go to bed at night, a lot of water and just after workouts and stuff replenishing.”
With Wright off to the NFL, Odom figures to be a key cog in a tight end room headlined by himself and senior Luke Hasz , who battled through a foot injury last season but was one of the most highly touted pieces of the Rebels’ 2025 transfer portal haul. Ole Miss also added sophomore transfers Brady Prieskorn ( Michigan ) and Michael Smith ( South Carolina ).
Despite trying debut at Ole Miss, staying with Rebels was 'a no brainer' for Luke Hasz
OXFORD – Last season wasn’t what Ole Miss senior tight end Luke Hasz had envisioned when he signed on to play in the Rebels’ high-flying offense. But the Bixby, Oklahoma native feels good about his chances in 2026-27.
New offensive coordinator John David Baker, who spent the last two seasons at East Carolina but was on staff previously at Ole Miss as a tight ends coach and co-offensive coordinator, has leaned on tight ends as a play caller in the past. Last season, the Pirates’ top two tight ends combined to catch 51 passes for 695 yards and five touchdowns.
One of the first conversations Odom had with Baker regarded his versatility.
“Me and J.D. had a lot of conversations when he first came in about just me being a guy, just me being a player – an offensive player – anywhere on the field,” Odom said. “And so that’s the ultimate goal. I wouldn’t really put a position mark on it. I know what I can do, and I know that I can pretty much play wide receiver (and) tight end. But it’s just whatever I need to do to help the team win at the end of the day.”
Odom sees a golden opportunity for himself and his fellow tight ends.
“It’s a blessing I think. That’s an understatement. I think he looks at us like guys that are going to make plays whenever we need to and whenever we’re put in the position to,” Odom said. “And so I think it’s definitely an advantage from any other school. I think JDB has a great idea of what he wants to accomplish with tight ends. … All of us are ready for that.”
