Football | 2/10/2025 12:26:00 PM
ORANGEBURG, SC—South Carolina State football defensive coordinator Jordan Odaffer made an historic debut this season, as he was the only coach from a HBCU (Historically Black College & University) to serve on the coaching staff at the prestigious Reese's Senior Bowl that was played February 01 inside Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. Odaffer served as an Assistant Linebacker Coach for the Senior Bowl.
The Reese's Senior Bowl is widely regarded as the pre-eminent college football all-star game and the first stage in the NFL Draft process. The longest continual-running all-star game has taken place in Mobile, Alabama the past 76 years. More than 900 NFL personnel, including key decision-makers from all 32 teams, and over 1100 media members from around the country were credentialed this year. This past April, the game produced 110 total picks, representing 43 percent of the entire NFL draft.
Under Odaffer, in his first season in charge of the SC State defense, the Bulldog defense was one of the premier defenses in the nation in all of FCS, and the top unit in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
The Bulldogs captured their 19
th league title in school history with the defense ranking nationally #21 Third Down Conversion PCT Defense, # 23 Fourth Down Conversion PCT Defense, #36 Block Kicks, #7 Defensive Touchdowns, # 11 First Downs Defense, # 21 Fumbles Recovered, #12 Passes Intercepted, #26 Passing Yards Allowed, # 20 Rushing Defense, # 22 Scoring Defense, #31 Team Passing Efficiency Defense, #5 Team Sacks, #5 Teams Tackles For Loss, #10 Total Defense and # 13 Turnovers Gained.
Eight (8) Bulldogs were named to the All-MEAC Defense, while several players were ranked nationally in defensive statistics, including DL Ashaad Hall (#19 Forced Fumbles, # 7 in Sacks, #23 in tackles for loss), DL Jayden Broughton (#24 in Sacks and Tackles for Loss), Aaron Smith (#19 Total Tackles) and DB Diego Addison (#15 in Interceptions).
Odaffer is no stranger to building nationally ranked defenses. Prior to joining SC State, he spent a three-year stint on Benedict's football staff as the team's Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers Coach and Recruiting Coordinator under current Bulldog head coach
Chennis Berry.
Under his leadership the Tigers claimed Back-to-Back SIAC Conference Championships, Back-to-Back HBCU Division II National Championships, and their first-ever national top 5 ranking. The 2023 Purple Swarm defense ranked in the top 5 in NCAA Division II in 10 categories including Scoring Defense (#1), Yards per Play (#1), Red Zone Defense (#1), Sacks Per Game (#1), Pass Yards Allowed (#2), Pass Efficiency Defense (#2), 4
th Down Defense (#2), Tackles for loss (#2), Total Defense (#4) and Takeaways (#4).
Benedict College's 2022 campaign saw the Tigers claim their first-ever SIAC Conference Championship, first-ever national ranking, first-ever national top 10 ranking, first-ever playoff berth, and first-ever HBCU Division II National Championship.
"Go Dogs! Working at the Reese's Senior Bowl was a great professional development opportunity that allowed me to work alongside some of the most talented coaches and players in the country, said Odaffer. "It was an honor to be on a national stage representing the South Carolina State brand and Bulldog Nation."
ABOUT SC STATE ATHLETICS
South Carolina State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 14 sports: women's volleyball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track & field, softball, men's and women's outdoor track and field, women's soccer and football with all teams competing in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), except for women's soccer.
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