Former Arkansas Razorbacks defensive coordinator Barry Odom's son transfers to Fayetteville (Arkansas) High School

UNLV QB commit Garyt Odom, former IMG linebacker playing for defending state champions

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - Sometimes the rich just continue to get richer, and Fayetteville High School is a prime example. 

Just over two months since winning their sixth state football championship in the past 16 years, the Bulldogs are already eyeing a repeat next season, with two big additions recently to their already stacked roster.

Garyt Odom, a 3-star quarterback prospect, who played his junior year in Las Vegas, and 4-star linebacker, Parker Meese, who was IMG Academy in Florida, will both be donning the Purple Dog digs when the 2024 season rolls around.

The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Odom, son of former Arkansas defensive coordinator and current Nevada-Las Vegas head coach Barry Odom, played his sophomore season at Shiloh Christian in Springdale, before joining his dad in Vegas last season.

New Fayetteville quarterback Garyt Odom (Photo by Steve Andrews)

The speedy dual-threat passed for 523 yards and 7 touchdowns at Faith Lutheran High School in 2023, while rushing for 643 yards and 8 TDs. He led the Crusaders (9-4) to a conference title and three playoff victories.

“This is just a better situation for being closer to some of my family, and also giving me the opportunity to graduate early.” Odom said of coming to Fayetteville. “This is where I consider home, and Arkansas has the best fans of any fanbase we’ve ever been a part of. Everyone has always been really welcoming to us.”

The family still owns a home locally, and Fayetteville allows him to be closer to grandparents and other family members in eastern Oklahoma and southern Missouri.

“It’s a new system -- and I’ve been through two others in my high school career -- but this one seems to fit my game really well,” Odom said. “I feel like these coaches can make me the best version of me.”

Odom has already committed to playing for his dad at UNLV.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Meese is also a UNLV commit and met Odom two years ago while on a visit to the University of Arkansas. The two struck up a friendship, so when Meese was looking to depart IMG after last season, he decided to join Odom at Fayetteville.

“Parker and I are great friends, so I told him I was going to Fayetteville, and I thought it would be an easy transition for him,” Odom said. “He came on a visit while my dad was here, and he loved it. He was looking for a place to go to, so it lined up perfectly.”

Meese grew up in Plano, Texas, and spent his sophomore season at Parish Episcopal School in Frisco – where he racked up 70 tackles, including and 5.5 behind the line of scrimmage -- before heading to IMG last season.

He received more than 30 offers, including Arkansas, Oregon, Texas A&M, Penn State, Michigan, Auburn, before committing to the Rebels.

Now, it’s just a matter of blending in with the new environment and new teammates for the duo, who both enrolled at Fayetteville this semester.

“I think any time you can get two kids like that, number one, what they’ve got to do is really come in here and be a part of our team – a lot of these other guys have been here for a while,” Bulldogs head coach Casey Dick said. “But so far, they’ve been accepted well and they have done really well during this transitional period.

“Here at Fayetteville, we have kids that move in and out all the time. It’s kind of a melting pot. But it’s been awesome to kind of step back and watch them interact and grow closer every day.”

Odom will be in a four-way battle for the starting nod to replace Gatorade State Player of the Year Drake Lindsey, competing with senior Landon Holzhauer, junior Dorien Bowers and sophomore Cruz Coatney.

“We feel fortunate that we have four guys that can go out there and take some snaps for us, with a lot of experience,” Dick said. “You look at each one of those kids and they all have some unique tools about them.

“Garyt has the ability to run and throw the ball, something we haven’t had in the past, as far as that dual-threat at quarterback. He’s just got to continue building that trust and continuity with his teammates.”

Meese looks to fall in line with a number of other great linebackers out of Fayetteville through the years, such as Dre Greenlaw, who will be starting for the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday.

“Obviously, Parker can play football really, really well,” said Dick. “That group of linebackers has been really good for us over the years, and he should be one of the next ones. Along with all the other kids we’ve got coming back.”

The objective remains the same for the Bulldogs and their two newest faces – winning that final game in Little Rock again next December.

Odom made no bones about his plans.

“We’re going to win the state championship again,” he said. 

--Steve Andrews I @SBLiveArk