Former Kennesaw State QB Amari Odom transfers to Syracuse
Odom was a first team All-Conference USA performer, throwing for 2,594 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. Leonardo Eriman | Senior Staff Photographer
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Former Kennesaw State quarterback Amari Odom has transferred to Syracuse, 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported Saturday. Odom was a first-team All-Conference USA performer in 2025, throwing for 2,594 yards and 19 touchdowns, along with running for 347.
Odom’s addition helps solidify Syracuse’s backup quarterback spot, which was a disaster in 2025. Steve Angeli established himself as one of the top passers in the country through the first month of the season, but his Achilles tear on Sept. 20 derailed SU’s season. Rickie Collins struggled mightily in five starts and was eventually benched for walk-on Joe Filardi. The Orange lost eight straight games without Angeli, leaving them looking for a better option to back up Angeli once he’s healthy in 2026.
With two years of starting experience, Odom can be a more reliable option for Fran Brown. He appeared in eight games for Wofford in 2024, prior to transferring to Kennesaw State, where he recorded career bests across the board and led the Owls to a 10-win season. On Nov. 22 against Missouri State, Odom threw for 387 yards and five touchdowns in a 41-34 victory.
In high school, Odom was a zero-star recruit while playing for Panther Creek High School in Cary, North Carolina. Now as a transfer, Odom is the 431st-best player in the portal, per 247Sports, and the 33rd-best quarterback.
Collins committed to Kennesaw State Friday, and with Luke Carney and Jakhari Williams also in the transfer portal, Odom will likely be SU’s second-string quarterback next season. Though Angeli’s timeline for return isn’t decided. Brown has stated in the past he hopes he’ll be ready for SU’s 2026 spring practices, but with an Achilles tear, nothing is certain. Odom might get the chance to work with Syracuse’s starters for a period in the spring.
Syracuse wants to have a better backup plan if Angeli can’t stay healthy in 2026. Last season, Brown relied on inexperienced quarterbacks, and it cost Syracuse. It doesn’t seem like he’s willing to take that risk again.
