Karlos Odum and the Evans High football squad was ready to hit the field for the first practice of the 2026 season, slated for Monday at 4 p.m. But almost to the exact second, lightning rolled into area near downtown Orlando and preempted the Trojans plans to take the field.
The weather also halted practice for Jones, Edgewater and Olympia. A number of other Orange County schools decided to avoid the daily routine of waiting out the dicey Florida afternoon weather, and scheduled practices in the morning.
“Afternoons are too crazy,” West Orange head coach Geno Thompson said.
At University High and Edgewater in Orlando, workouts were limited to indoor activities.
“We did some indoor weightlifting and handed out some equipment,” University head coach Dave Carrington said.
Orlando-area 2026 High School Football Transfer Tracker
The Evans team, entering the season with high expectations, confined itself to meeting rooms.
More than 15 incoming transfers give Evans a whole new look.
Head coach Karlos Odum said the Trojans “only look good on paper. We gotta put it on the grass on Friday nights.
The marquee name among those transfers is quarterback Will Jackson, a 6-foot-5, 200-pounder with a big arm who is committed to Maryland.
Orlando’s top receiver, Brian Dillard, is also headed to Evans. He transferred from a small-school powerhouse, The First Academy, along with cornerback David Coleman. The transfer of those two players is still in the works, and the paperwork isn’t even dry yet. With Jackson, Dillard and transfer running back Daveon Williams, the offense looks to be in good hands.
While the offense rides mostly on the arm of Jackson, Odum knows he will have a stingy defense, led by sack master, senior defensive end Chris Sanon. He is built like a college linebacker, and Sanon will see more action in that position this year.
Safety Demetre Pryor roams the backfield, and he enters the season with the most interceptions of any defensive back in Central Florida with 7 picks in each of his first two seasons.
Weather pushed the Evans High football team indoors Monday, the first day of football practice, so head coach Karlos Odum spoke to the Sentinel in the weight room. (Chris Hays/Orlando Sentinel)
So Evans will be salty. It’s just a matter of how the coaching staff can mold the addition of nearly 20 new bodies, which could cause chaos.
Odum says no problem.
“The thing about football is that it’s blocking, running, catching and tackling, so we put the kids in the system, teach it to them and coach them,” Odum said. “And if they can run, block, tackle and catch, then they’re gonna be all right. They’ll fit in. They’ll figure it out.”
Lake Mary had 27 transfers come in last year, and things weren’t perfect at the start. In Week 8 the Rams were thumped by Evans, 40-14. But Lake Mary turned everything around and won the Class 7A state title.
“It’s the leadership of the coaches that makes a difference for the kids and makes them successful. It’s the leadership part,” Odum said. “Fortunately, I’m around a great coaching staff where I can just lead. My coaches coach and run the schemes and everything and I’m here to support them.”
Odum knows expectations are high for a team that was 8-3 last year. He doesn’t listen to thje noise outside of his locker room.
“I don’t have any expectations. Mine is to go 1-0 every week,” Odum said. “We play Wekiva in our last game on the schedule, and we’ll see how it is then. I try to just stay focused on one game at a time. If we just focus on ourselves, then I think we can be pretty good.”
One of the biggest games of the season comes early. Jones visits Evans for a Week 2 date, and the rivalry will be loaded with plenty of chatter leading up to the contest. Odum is hoping the fans will show up. He said the fan support during his first three years at Evans has been disappointing.
“I don’t really understand it,” Odum said. “Big games like that they might come out and be a lot of them here, but the next week there might be 30-50 people. It’s crazy.”
Chris Hays can be found on X.com @OS_ChrisHays