The Odom Family’s Full-Circle Gators Moment

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Young Jonathan Odom wore an orange shirt, khaki shorts and tennis shoes as he ran around the field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in a playful one-on-one game that took place more than a decade ago.

His opponent? His father, Jason Odom, the former Gators All-American starting offensive lineman. The University of Florida Athletics Hall of Famer knows all about playing under the bright lights of the Swamp.

This day was different, though. The stands were empty. The grass was freshly cut. And other kids were running around in the background.

With the football tucked into his chest and protected by a tiny arm, Jonathan took it to the end zone. As Jonathan and Jason faced off under the Florida sun, their family photographed the moment.

With a press of a button, the picture froze a moment that would later be repeated: a Jonathan Odom touchdown.

Now, fast forward to Nov. 12 in Florida’s 38-6 win against South Carolina. The Odom family has another keepsake moment, one that more than 89,000 fans at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium witnessed.

Jonathan scored in the very same end zone.

A lot has changed as days dropped from the calendar

Jonathan’s feet are much larger. He’s taller. He’s older. And, like his father when he starred for the Gators in the mid-1990s, Jonathan is wearing a Gators uniform.

The score came on a third-and-2 play on which UF quarterback Anthony Richardson play-faked and rolled right. He lobbed a short pass to Odom, who caught the ball, turned, and strolled into the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown, the first of his career.

From the stands, Jason Odom watched the play unravel. As someone who played at Bartow High, then at UF, and for four years in the NFL, he understood what was happening before it came to fruition.

“I saw the play forming, and I stood up ’cause I knew that he was going to be open,” Jason said this week.

And there Jonathan was, wide open after Richardson faked a handoff to running back Montrell Johnson Jr. A third-year sophomore tight end, Jonathan rocked the all-blue No. 87 Florida jersey across the goal line as fans roared into the night.

He then danced on the same piece of real estate he scored on as a young boy.

“It’s a really surreal moment,” Jonathan said.