Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Arkansas Football: 3 storylines to follow in spring 2021

By Connor Muldowney

Dec 5, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jefferson (1) is congratulated by running back Trelon Smith (22) after throwing a touchdown pass against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2020; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jefferson (1) is congratulated by running back Trelon Smith (22) after throwing a touchdown pass against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
LITTLE ROCK, AR – NOVEMBER 29: Head Coach Barry Odom of the Missouri Tigers watches his team warm up before a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at War Memorial Stadium on November 29, 2019 in Little Rock, Arkansas The Tigers defeated the Razorbacks 24-14. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
LITTLE ROCK, AR – NOVEMBER 29: Head Coach Barry Odom of the Missouri Tigers watches his team warm up before a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at War Memorial Stadium on November 29, 2019 in Little Rock, Arkansas The Tigers defeated the Razorbacks 24-14. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

2. Is Barry Odom earning that raise?

After getting fired as head coach of Missouri following the 2019 season, Barry Odom was a top candidate to be a defensive coordinator at a Power Five school. Although his Tigers were never really contenders in the SEC, he had some solid defenses along the way.

It didn’t take long for Sam Pittman to give him a call and bring him to Fayetteville in 2020.

Odom took over the defense in 2020 for Arkansas and although there was minimal improvement on that side of the ball, it was still a step in the right direction given how bad the Razorbacks had been for a few years. Any improvement was a good thing and it showed some promise. Enough so, in fact, to garner some interest from other programs trying to hire him away.

Arkansas stepped up and gave Odom an extension and a raise through 2023 worth about $1.7 million per year which is more than most assistants across college football.

Will the defense show enough growth and development this spring to warrant this huge raise and extension for Odom, making him one of the highest paid assistants in the country?

Home/Arkansas Razorbacks