As the Nebraska football season draws ever nearer, it feels as though Danny Odem has been almost forgotten. However, anyone who truly forgets the talented defensive back needs a reminder of the talk this spring and early in camp, when coaches gave him a strong chance to see the field early and often in 2026.
Earlier this week, it was made clear that the hype around the freshman defensive back isn’t just getting attention from inside Memorial Stadium. Plenty of national analysts and organizations consider him a prime-time player already.
The Cornerback joined the growing list of Nebraska football players to be named to a preseason award list on Wednesday. Odem was featured on the preseason list for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
First presented in 2018, the Shaun Alexander Award goes to the College Freshman Player of the Year and honors Shaun Alexander, a former standout at the University of Alabama and the 2005 NFL MVP with the Seattle Seahawks. Now, Odem is among 37 players to be named to the preseason list, but one of just 12 defensive players.
Danny Odem represents Nebraska football on Shaun Alexander Award preseason watch list
That Odem is in select company for making the list at all is impressive. When taking into account that he’s in a very small group, it shows how highly people in the sport believe Odem can be. Especially as one of just a dozen players on the defensive side of the field.
Odem is officially the sixth Husker to join a preseason award list and the third defensive player. The young cornerback joins Donovan Jones (Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List) and Owen Chambliss (Butkus Award) as fellow potential Blackshirts to be named. Anthony Colandrea (Maxwell Award), Jacory Barney (Paul Hornung) and Justin Evans (Rimington) were also named to preseason award lists. Odem also holds the distinction of being the only freshman to be added to any watch list from the Cornhuskers.
Odem joined the Nebraska roster as a five-star prospect, according to 247Sports and the No. 19 player in the class of 2026. He concluded his high school career at The First Academy in Orlando by delivering a three-interception game against defending 7A state champion Venice High School. He was also selected to play in the Navy All-American Bowl.
Overall, Odem tallied 45 tackles, 2 interceptions, 3 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles in 10 games in 2025. Through his first three varsity seasons, he totaled 80 tackles, two tackles for loss, five interceptions and eight passes defended. Odem was also productive offensively, catching 68 passes for 776 yards and eight touchdowns, including 50 receptions for 613 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore at Farrell High School in Pennsylvania.
Bringing that talent to a secondary that has several candidates for a starting spot, but one cornerback depth chart wide open, Danny Odem looks like he’ll at least be given a shot to play quite a bit early in Nebraska’s season.
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