Ohio State recruit Trajen Odom’s long journey from California to Raleigh ... to Weddington

Weddington football has a new weapon on defense.

Trajen Odom , a defensive lineman named to the preseason All-Observer team , is committed to play at Ohio State and joined the Warriors as a senior. A 6-foot-4, 285-pound strongside defensive end, Odom is considered a four-star prospect by ESPN and On3 .

His family made the move to the Charlotte area from outside Raleigh, and Odom has been relishing the winning football culture at Weddington.

“There’s a want to win here,” Odom said. “It’s just a real competitive environment. Coach (Andy) Capone and all the other coaches on the staff, they hate losing. And that’s something I really love about everybody.

“(Weddington football) is something I really want to be a part of — and I’m enjoying that I’m a part of — to help me get to my college years.”

From California to North Carolina

Odom was born and raised in Inglewood, California, and moved before the start of high school.

He enjoyed growing up in the Los Angeles area, and still considers himself a big Lakers, Rams and Dodgers fan. Many of his family members still live there, and now having the Charlotte Airport close by has made it easier for them to travel.

They initially settled in the Raleigh area, where Odom and his older brother, Amari , played football at Panther Creek High in Cary. Odom made 54 tackles, including 22 tackles for loss, in his final season with the Catamounts before transferring.

“At first it was different,” Odom said. “It’s kind of country, but you also get big city. It’s a mix of both, and there are cool people over here. Cool vibes, that’s what I like about it over here.”

Soon-to-be Buckeye comes from a family of athletes

Amari Odom, two years older than the Weddington’s newest lineman, is a redshirt freshman quarterback at Wofford College in Spartanburg.

The Odoms’ father, DeWayne , signed an NFL contract with the team formerly known as the San Diego Chargers in 1991 , and their mother, Trisha Stafford-Odom , played in the WNBA and overseas before becoming the head women’s basketball coach at North Carolina Central .

For now, the youngest Odom gets to be a part of Weddington — a football program that won in 2016 , 2018 and 2019 before winning another last year at the 4A level — before heading up to Columbus, Ohio, to join the Ryan Day-led Buckeyes .

It’s the sport that Trajen Odom felt he grew into after starting out playing soccer, baseball and basketball in California. Now he knows it’s the one where his abilities are best, and his passion truly lies.

“I’m just excited to get up there,” Odom said. “ Coach (Larry) Johnson , Coach Day , they have a great plan for me in store. We’re building a great class. Coach Day has a team, and he has the future of a team that is built to just win championships for a few years. So that’s just what I hope to do.”

Get Product Recall Updates