George Odum facts for kids
Odum with the Colts in 2019
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| No. 30 – San Francisco 49ers | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | November 3, 1993 Millington, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 202 lb (92 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Millington Central (Millington) | ||||||||||
| College: | Central Arkansas (2013–2017) | ||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2018 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
George Odum (born November 3, 1993) is an American professional football player. He plays as a safety and on special teams for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football at Central Arkansas. George Odum is known for his excellent play on special teams. He was named an All-Pro player in 2020 and again in 2022.
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Early Life and High School Sports
George Odum grew up in Millington, Tennessee. He was a fantastic athlete at Millington Central High School. He played both football and ran track. In his final year of high school, he was chosen as an All-Region player. He excelled as a defensive back and also as a punt returner. He even played in special all-star games for top high school athletes.
College Football Career
George Odum played five seasons for the Central Arkansas Bears. He took a "redshirt" year, which means he practiced with the team but didn't play in games during his first year. This allowed him to gain experience and play for four full seasons later.
He played both linebacker and safety positions. George became one of the best players in his school's history. He finished his college career with 350 tackles, which is the fourth-highest ever for Central Arkansas.
In one season, he was named first-team All-Southland Conference. He made 86 tackles, forced four fumbles, and even scored a touchdown after catching an interception. As a senior, George led his team in tackles. He was named the Southland Defensive Player of the Year. He was also chosen as an All-America player, which means he was one of the best college players in the whole country.
Professional Football Journey
Starting with the Indianapolis Colts
In 2018, George Odum joined the Indianapolis Colts. He was an undrafted free agent, meaning no team picked him in the NFL Draft. But he worked hard and earned a spot on the team after training camp.
He played his first NFL game on September 9, 2018. He mostly played on special teams at first. Later that season, he got his first chance to start a game as a safety. He made six tackles in that game. George also got his first career interception against the Dallas Cowboys. In his first year, he played in all 16 games for the Colts. He had 36 tackles and two passes defended.
In 2019, George continued to play in every game for the Colts. He made 37 tackles and forced two fumbles. He even started a game against the Kansas City Chiefs, helping his team win.
In 2020, George Odum became a star on special teams. Even though he didn't play much defense, he led the entire NFL with 20 special teams tackles! Because of this amazing performance, he was named a first-team All-Pro player for special teams. This is a huge honor, meaning he was one of the best players in the league at his position.
The Colts wanted to keep him, so they offered him a new contract in 2021. That year, he played more on defense because of injuries to other players. He started seven games and had 55 tackles. After the 2021 season, he became a free agent, meaning he could choose which team to play for next.
Joining the San Francisco 49ers
On March 22, 2022, George Odum signed a three-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers. He continued his excellent play with his new team. After his first season with the 49ers, he was named an All-Pro player for the second time in his career!
In November 2023, George was placed on injured reserve due to an injury. This means players can't play in games while they recover. But he worked hard and was able to return to play in January 2024.
In March 2024, the 49ers signed George to another contract extension. This shows how much they value his skills and leadership. However, in December 2024, he was again placed on injured reserve.
