Not that long ago, one of my fellow writers here at Steel City Underground, Zac Celedonia, wrote a piece entitled Phazahn Odom: The name you need to know.   Zac isn’t the only one who took notice, as he highlights in his article, so did Mark Kaboly.

It’s understandable. Phazahn is not a guy who is easy to overlook. He stands 6’ 8” tall and is an extremely well spoken, intelligent and committed individual. I had the opportunity to talk with him and get his view on football, the Steelers and what he might be able to offer the organization.

Odom grew up in Barnwell, South Carolina, which he describes as “a really small country town.” In high school, Odom was an All-State basketball player, but he found football later than most NFL prospects.

I didn’t play football until later. I started playing my junior year in high school, but I didn’t really get a lot of playing time until my senior year.

However, the transition from the big round ball to the oddly shaped oval one wasn’t without some effort. “When I first started playing football I didn’t know how to catch at all. I would try and high point the ball but I didn’t have the right fundamentals. However, once I got those fundamentals, my basketball skills helped me high point the ball and make combat type catches.

He figured it out well enough to head to Fordham University in the Bronx. Coming from such a small town, that was a big change.

It was definitely a big adjustment. Barnwell is a really small country town. Coming from that to a place where there is a lot to do, a lot of different cultures. It took some time getting used to it all, but I’m really glad I chose to go to New York because it helped me mature and gave me the opportunity to experience different things.

Fordham is a Patriot League school, but Odom sees similarities between his alma matter and the Steelers.

Fordham is a school that is rich in football history. Vince Lombardi graduated from Fordham. We have a history of being a winning team. There a lot of comparisons to the Steelers, both have a rich history and a winning tradition.

It hasn’t been easy for Odom. His freshman year he was forced to sit out the entire season with an injury. It was hard for him, but I told him that Steelers legend Joe Greene has been quoted as saying that when you overcome adversity you gain mental toughness, and Odom agrees with the Hall of Fame legend.

I definitely feel I have gained mental toughness. Coming in my freshman year I was a young guy who was eager to play, ready to do everything. So for me to have to sit out a full year and watch was really tough. But it taught me patience and taught me to keep working hard no matter what. Keep working at your craft if you want to be successful.

Throughout games, everything isn’t going to go your way, and you need that mental toughness to help you overcome that adversity.

The rough start certainly didn’t stop him at Fordham. In 2015 he had a record setting season; setting the school record for most touchdown catches by a tight end in a season. He led the Rams in both receptions and receiving yards that year and earned All-Patriot League honors.

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While Odom wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine, but he put up numbers that were comparable to players who were during his pro day. His 4.79 40-yard dash would have been in the top 12 at the combine, and his vertical jump and three-cone drill would have been top ten. Yet Odom isn’t satisfied with those numbers and wants to be clear that he can do better.

My athleticism is my strength. I feel like I am a good red zone threat. Even though those were my pro-day numbers, I think I can do better than that. I was coming off a hip surgery I had in the offseason, and I didn’t have my explosiveness back yet. I can offer more than I showed in my pro-day.

That’s good news for the Steelers.

Odom is aware of the parts of his game that need work as well and is upfront about what he needs to improve on to be successful at the NFL level.

I need to work on blocking in general. Coming from an offense where I didn’t have to be in a three-point stance that often, coming here I’m still learning the blocking techniques and footwork. If I can learn that, stay low and not be 6’ 8” when I’m blocking I think it will help me transition.

While Phazahn wasn’t drafted, he was hopeful throughout the process and felt he might get a call.

I definitely had expectations to be drafted. Preseason I got a lot of hype, but I didn’t have the senior year I needed to have. Because of my offseason surgery, my pro day wasn’t what I hoped. So I didn’t get the call.

As it turns out, that’s also to the Steelers benefit. Odom was available to try out as a rookie camp invite, and the day after the draft, he accepted their invitation. But it wasn’t just the Steelers who came calling.

The Bears, the Jaguars, the Chiefs all invited me to rookie camp as well. I felt there was more opportunity with the Steelers, and overall it was the best program in my opinion.

I asked Odom what the mini camp experience was like, and despite being in a building where six Lombardi trophies can be seen on a daily basis, you could tell he wasn’t overwhelmed.

Honestly, it’s almost just like a normal practice. You do everything you normally would do with meetings, and at practice.

As a tight end, he falls under the purview of James Daniel, the Steelers tight end coach. I asked him what his first impressions of Coach Daniel were.

He’s a fantastic guy. A great coach. He’s from the south. He reminds me of like a southern uncle. He has that tone.

He also said that Coach Tomlin was paying close attention to the tight ends.

He’s a really funny guy. He’s a great coach. His resume speaks for itself. I expected him to be more tight, but he’s a really funny person. He was watching the tight ends closely. He told me to stay low, and when blocking, strike with power. It gave me something to work on.

When I asked him what his impressions of the city where he didn’t have an answer.

I haven’t really had a chance to explore the city yet. I don’t have an impression – I’ve been sitting in my room and studying my playbook.

I told him that’s not an answer that is going to upset any Steeler fan! Odom is dedicated to making this roster, and not just hoping to catch on as a practice squad guy.

Yeah, being on the practice squad is good, but I don’t think anyone should be content with that. I’m still gonna keep working, keep trying to get better so I can get called up to the active roster.

Throughout the conversation, you get a sense of determination from Odom. He understands what is required to seize this opportunity. When I asked him about work ethic, he said “I been staying after practice, working on my hands and blocking. Both me and Scott (Orndoff) have been getting extra time with Coach Daniels, meeting with him extra so we can get the playbook down. We are just doing everything we can to get better.”

Of course, Scott Orndoff is another tight end who the Steelers signed as an undrafted free agent. I asked Odom what the camaraderie was like among the new recruits.

It’s a lot of competition, but at the same time, we are all friends, having fun and helping each other out. We are competing, but helping each other get better.

That fits with what Odom saw in the locker room as some of the veteran players were arriving, and the general sense of family that is as much a part of the “Steelers Way” as anything else.

When some of the vets start showing up you can see that right away. They were joking and having fun. Competing with each other, but in a fun way and not in a way where they were being negative or talking trash – it was just fun competition.

Odom is a mature young man and focused. He knows what the challenge in front of him requires. I asked him what it was going to be like at OTAs with all the veteran players, and if he might have some stars in his eyes.

It’s a lot of big name guys, for that first day or two I will be a little starstruck, but I need to put that behind me and focus on business.

I asked him what he thinks he needs to do to stand out; to earn his spot on the 53-man roster if that’s in the cards.

I feel like I have to keep pushing, keep working. Be as mentally logged in with the plays, and let my athleticism and my big catch radius, I have to let those things make me stand out. Avoid dropped balls, and be involved in special teams.

Odom is young and relatively raw, but he has the measurable and the athletic gifts necessary for him to blossom. As of right now, he’s a Pittsburgh Steeler, and he’s loving it.

It feels fantastic. There is still work to be done, and I have a lot to do to make the roster, but it feels great to have the opportunity.

Could the Steelers have the newest version of the “twin towers”? Odom and Jesse James are the two youngest guys in the Steelers tight end room: both are only 22 years old. James is 6′ 7″ and Odom is 6′ 8″.  Just imagine two guys that big as targets for Big Ben in the red zone.

Let’s all hope that the dedication and drive which exude from Phazahn Odom leads to future success, especially while wearing the black and gold!