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It’s official. Dayo Odeyingbo will join his brother Dare on the Vanderbilt football roster.
Odeyingbo, a 6’4, 250-pound quarterback-mashing defensive end, signed his official letter of intent Wednesday. The three-star prospect turned down scholarship offers from Oklahoma, Baylor, Colorado, Michigan, Texas, and Texas A&M to join the Commodores.
The bulky pass rusher has the speed to create pressure off the edge and the strength to push blockers backward to disrupt plays. He takes on smart angles to cross up blockers, then uses fast hands and improving footwork to gain passage to the pocket. He’s still a raw player, but his physical gifts make him an intriguing talent for the Commodores.
His older brother, Dare, has made a positive impact on the program since arriving in 2015. The elder Odeyingbo appeared in eight games as a true freshman before starting a handful of games last fall. He finished the year with four tackles for loss and a sack, priming him for what promises to be a a breakthrough 2017.
He’ll need to add some bulk if he’s going to play on the line in the SEC, but he could also transition to outside linebacker if he proves fast enough to provide value in coverage. Odeyingbo brings plenty of potential to the Vanderbilt lineup — that’s something Derek Mason has proven he can work with in the past.