Just over two months until kickoff in the Jawja Dome and we've hit another rich vein of O-lineman on our countdown.
We've got 67 days until kickoff...so today we'll be taking a look at number 67 on the Boise State roster—Rees Odhiambo
#67, Rees Odhiambo, True Freshman, OL
Stats
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 296 lbs.
High School: Mansfield Legacy High School, Mansfield, TX
How'd he get to The Blue™?
Odhiambo, a native of Kenya, has only lived in the U.S. since 2000 and only started playing football his junior year after Mansfield coaches spotted him in a P.E. class and begged him to come out for the team. Odhiambo caved in, hit the weight room and quickly became a huge (and I mean huge) force for the fortuitously named Broncos—garnering honorable mention all-league honors in only his 1st year playing the sport and then nabbing 2nd team all-conference honors his senior year. In Odhiambo's final year at Legacy, he recorded 26 knockdowns and 14 pancake blocks while also being named academic all-district and receiving the Teacher's Choice Award. Apparently other schools were scared off by Odhiambo's lack of experience and the Broncos extended him his only D-1 offer. A few schools suddenly became interested once he committed to the Broncos, but Odhiambo knew where he belonged.
Nickname
"Kenyan Krusher"
This is also his WWE stage name.
Look-a-like
Bond villain Dr. Kananga (Yaphet Kotto)
Career highlights
Allowing just one sack as a senior. Earning 2nd team all-conference honors. Back-to-back academic all-district distinctions.
Career lowlight
Waiting so long to pick up the game (although this might have led to the Broncos having to fight harder for his services).
2011 prospectus
Odhiambo already has the size...but he's as green as they come. However, the big Kenyan is all upside and it looks like his academics are above reproach, so I expect that he'll become a football sponge during his redshirt season and be hard to keep off the field in 2012 and beyond. According to Odhiambo's high school coach, Chris Melson, Odhiambo has excellent feet, and is extremely flexible for a big man. He also thinks, believe it or not, that Odhiambo's frame could handle more weight, although Socha might take a look at Odhiambo and tell him "that'll do". I think Odhiambo could certainly play tackle, but I think guard may be a more natural position for him and wouldn't be surprised to see him line up there next Spring. Any way you slice it, the Broncos' youth along the O-line means that we'll won't be seeing high turnover for the next few years. Odhiambo's a project, but I like his chances.
Completely made up fact
Fittingly, "Odhiambo" means "Maker of Pancakes" in Swahili.