Kennesaw State transfer quarterback Amari Odom, a redshirt sophomore from Inglewood, Calif., who visited the Orange earlier this week, has committed to Syracuse football, a source confirmed to me on Saturday. This development was first reported by 247Sports/CBS Sports.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Odom gives the 'Cuse a boost in its quarterback room for the upcoming 2026 season. Head coach Fran Brown has said that he anticipates his 2026 QB room will feature redshirt junior Steve Angeli, who was leading the country in total passing yards this past term before suffering a season-ending injury in a win at Clemson in September, along with two transfers and incoming three-star freshman Zaid Lott from Charlotte, N.C.
BREAKING: Kennesaw State transfer quarterback Amari Odom, a redshirt sophomore from Inglewood, Calif., who visited the 'Cuse a few days ago, has committed to Syracuse football, a source tells our @DAMNTWIN. First reported by @mzenitz/@chris_hummer. Story coming later today. 🎯🧡
— InsideTheLoudHouse (@LoudHouseFS) January 10, 2026
Now the Syracuse football staff has one transfer quarterback on board, and the Orange has hosted several other transfer QBs on visits lately. A source told me on Saturday that while the 'Cuse is looking at other transfer quarterbacks, the program isn't focused on one in particular yet.
This past season, Odom led Kennesaw State to a 10-4 record and a Conference USA championship. He was named to the All-Conference USA first team in 2025, while completing 64.9 percent of his passes for 2,594 yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
On the ground, Odom rushed 120 times for 347 yards and seven more scores. In transfer rankings from 247Sports, he is three stars, No. 431 overall and No. 33 at quarterback.
Syracuse football has bolstered its 2026 quarterback room.
Regarding other transfer quarterbacks who have visited the 'Cuse of late, West Florida redshirt sophomore Marcus Stokes has committed to Memphis. Furman sophomore Trey Hedden has visited the 'Cuse, although he pledged to New Mexico State.
Another recent visitor has been Taron Dickens, a redshirt sophomore at Western Carolina. This past Wednesday, Syracuse football hosted Mercer's Braden Atkinson, a freshman All-American at the FCS level, on a visit to the Hill. Let's see what happens with Dickens and Atkinson in terms of their future collegiate homes.
Interestingly enough, in recent days, redshirt sophomore quarterback Rickie Collins has transferred to Kennesaw State.
The Orange is up to 10 commitments from college transfers, and the team's 2026 transfer class is No. 53 nationally, per 247Sports. Here are Syracuse football's other nine transfer pledges:
•Defensive lineman Dillan Fontus, a junior at Maryland
•Defensive lineman Keyshawn Johnson, a junior at UT Martin
•Wide receiver Elijah Moore, a redshirt freshman at Florida State
•Linebacker Chris D’Appolonia, a redshirt sophomore at Toledo
•Wide receiver Cole Weaver, a redshirt sophomore at Miami (Ohio)
•Running back Ahmad Miller, a redshirt sophomore at Jackson State
•Defensive tackle Jartavius Flounoy, a freshman at Georgia State
•Running back Ju’Juan Johnson, a sophomore at LSU
•Tight end Michael Smith, a sophomore at South Carolina