Caleb Odom On Ole Miss’ Slow Starts: ‘We Just Got To Be Better, Like Just Period’

Ole Miss has scored on its first drive once all season, against Charlotte. Asked Tuesday what the film shows about the slow starts, tight end Caleb Odom did not point at one position group. He pointed at all of them.

Yeah, I mean, we just got to be better, like just period. At the O-line position, tight end position, receivers. I know Trent has some stuff that he— we looked at that he, you know, he wants to become better at.

Caleb Odom

“Trent” is Trinidad Chambliss. Odom’s prescription was the same one Pete Golding gave Monday, when he called the early problems execution and timing.

Just collectively as a team, you know, just going into games, we just got to play faster, play more physical to start off and just, you know, not make those mistakes so early on because, you know, you can’t go on the road and dig yourself in that kind of hole.

Caleb Odom

Ole Miss trailed Texas 24-3 at halftime before scoring 21 straight points to tie it.

“Win out is obviously what we want to do”

After the 34-27 loss in Austin, Chambliss said Ole Miss has to win out. Odom was asked for his read, and he held both halves of it at once.

I think what Trent said can be looked at, but then again, I mean, you never know what could happen. Um, win out is obviously what we want to do, and we want to win every single game.

Caleb Odom

But we have to put ourselves in the best position to be able to do that. And that starts with this Tuesday practice. Tomorrow’s Wednesday practice. Thursday’s walkthrough. So it just has to be done day by day.

Caleb Odom

“I don’t really ever think there is a day off”

Golding told his team after Texas there are no more days off, then clarified that he did not mean it literally. Odom said for him it was never a change.

I mean, I don’t really think that there ever is a day off, honestly. Like, for me, I know specifically every day is something, whether it’s film, recovery, practice, football.

Caleb Odom

“The plan… is to empty the stadium”

Asked why the road is so hard, Odom described the noise, the cadence and the calls, and then the goal Ole Miss takes into every road game.

And, you know, the plan when we go on the road all the time is to empty the stadium. And, you know, we want to have our section of fans still the last ones in there and just us.

Caleb Odom

At home, he said, the advantage belongs to the fans.

I think it’s honestly just a reflection of our fans, our people here. You know, not only is it a confidence boost for us to play in front of these people and play in front of our fans and have the home field advantage, but I think it’s a real— I think it’s like a real, like, thing.

Caleb Odom

The line, from a tight end who came from Alabama

Odom started his career at Alabama, and he compared the Ole Miss offensive line to the rooms he saw there.

Those guys are real deal. Like, I know like my freshman year when I was at Alabama and, you know, I was in an O-line room or I was like— oh, shoot. Just being there and having guys like Tyler Booker and JC Latham and those guys there my freshman year, like, I know coming here now watching Patrick Kutas and guys like Delano and, Tommy and Bryson, like those guys, they communicate physical, like just the way they play is honestly amazing.

Caleb Odom

Without Kewan Lacy, who is out for Auburn with a dislocated shoulder, Odom said the room behind him is ready.

You know, obviously Kewan is a great player. We miss him and stuff, just his energy, his focus, his talent, you know, his abilities. But I think right behind him, we got those guys like [Makhi Frazier] and JT and Shekai and just all the backs.

Caleb Odom

Auburn (4-3) visits No. 12 Ole Miss (5-2, 3-2 SEC) on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. CT on SEC Network. Odom on the Tigers: “Very similar to Texas,” with a good front seven and a lot of different coverages on the back end.

Photo: Caleb Odom makes a catch at Vanderbilt, October 10, 2026, at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images.

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From Caleb Odom’s Auburn-week press availability, Tuesday, October 27, 2026.