Nebraska's Five-Star Freshman Corner Is Already on a National Watch List

Husker fans, the rest of the country has noticed the freshman before he’s played a down.

Danny Odem III was named Wednesday to the preseason watch list for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award — one of just 37 players in all of FBS football, and one of only 12 defenders.

He is a true freshman. He has taken zero college snaps.

Who he is

Odem is a five-star prospect, rated by 247Sports as the No. 19 player in the entire class of 2026.

He’s out of Farrell, Pennsylvania, and spent last season at The First Academy in Orlando. Nebraska lists him at 6-foot, 195 pounds, wearing No. 16.

His senior year had the kind of afternoon that ends up in a press release forever: three interceptions in one game against Venice High School — the defending Florida 7A state champion.

He was picked for the Navy All-American Bowl after it.

What the award is

The Shaun Alexander Award goes to the best freshman in college football, and it’s run by the Maxwell Football Club. This is the ninth time it’s been handed out; the first was in 2018.

It’s named for Shaun Alexander, the Alabama standout who was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 2005 with the Seattle Seahawks.

From here the list gets cut down. Fourteen semifinalists are announced in early November, five finalists on December 2, and the winner on December 28. The award itself is presented at the Maxwell Awards ceremony in Atlanta next March.

What it means for Saturday

Nothing, directly. Preseason watch lists are lists — nobody has tackled anybody yet, and the roster in front of him includes a defensive back room 21 deep.

What it does tell you is what the people who evaluate this stuff for a living think Nebraska landed. A No. 19 overall recruit does not sign in Lincoln every year.

Husker fans, keep an eye on 16. First look is September 5 against Ohio.