COLUMBIA, Mo. • Major college football wanted no part of Barry Odom.
A prolific running back and linebacker from Maysville, Okla., Odom played his final three years of high school on a torn knee ligament. He rushed for nearly 1,600 yards and 39 touchdowns as a senior in 1994.
That spring, Howard Schnellenberger had just taken over as the head coach at Oklahoma. The leader of the state’s traditional power showed zero interest in Odom.
On to Oklahoma State. Odom visited OSU’s campus in Stillwater. Josh Henson, an offensive lineman, was his host. Odom loved it enough he committed to the Cowboys.