Nebraska’s Danny Odem has already arrived in Lincoln with big expectations. Now the freshman cornerback has landed on a national watch list to match them.
Odem was one of 37 players named Wednesday to the preseason watch list for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. The former five-star recruit entered college as the No. 19 overall prospect in the 2026 recruiting class, according to 247Sports, and Nebraska is expecting him to contribute right away this fall.
His rise started well before he became a headliner on the recruiting trail. Odem spent his first two high school seasons at Farrell High School in Pennsylvania, then transferred to The First Academy in Orlando, Florida, after his sophomore year. From there, his profile kept climbing.
As a junior, Odem posted 45 tackles, two interceptions, and three pass breakups, according to MaxPreps. He followed that with a strong senior season that included three interceptions in one game against the defending Florida 7A state championship team. After the 2025 season, he earned all-district honors and was selected for the Navy All-American Bowl.
By the time his recruitment wrapped up, Odem had collected 48 Division I offers before choosing Nebraska. The Huskers won out over several national powers, including Ohio State, Georgia, and Miami, after he decommitted from North Carolina in December 2024.
Nebraska’s 2026 recruiting class finished No. 62 nationally, but it still included one of the sport’s most coveted prospects. The Huskers were one of only 20 programs to sign a five-star recruit, joining Big Ten schools Oregon, USC, Ohio State, Michigan, Maryland, and Washington in that group. Their class had just three blue-chip players: Odem, Claude Mpouma, and Dylan Berymon.
Of that trio, Odem appears to be the closest to a starting job this fall. The competition, though, is real. He’s in a tight battle for the cornerback spot opposite All-Big Ten honorable mention selection Andrew Marshall, with Florida International transfer Victor Evans III and senior Jeremiah Charles also in the mix.
All three are expected to play a role. Nebraska finished third nationally against the pass in 2025, and defensive backs coach Addison Williams has said he believes each of them can help keep that level of play going this season.
If Odem does win the job, the Freshman of the Year conversation could follow. To become a finalist, he’ll likely need to secure a starting role at some point during the season.
Odem is one of 12 defensive players on the watch list, which includes both true freshmen and redshirt freshmen from around the country. The award’s 14 semifinalists will be announced Nov. 3, and the winner will be revealed Dec. 28.
The Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award has been handed out every year since 2018, and three defenders have won it since then. Odem is hoping to be the next one.
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