Jared Odrick, DT

Blessed with exceptional size, strength and toughness, Odrick seized his opportunity and emerged as a dominating force in the interior of the Penn State defensive line in his senior season. Bouncing back from a series of injuries that cut short his sophomore campaign, the former defensive end provided leadership and significant contributions from the interior of the defensive line last fall, earning Big Ten Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year recognition.

Odrick's skills and tenacity often forced the opposition to put two blockers on him, freeing up a teammate to make a play. A physical, talented, no-nonsense player, his ability to provide an inside push was disruptive to the opposing team's rushing and passing attacks.

In 2009, he made 43 plays vs. the opponents' ground games, holding those ball carriers to minus-24 yards, as he made eleven stops for loss, took down eight runners at the line of scrimmage for no gain and produced eight third-down tackles to kill scoring drives. He allowed just four carries for first downs vs. the running game.

The unquestioned leader of the Penn State defense, he led a unit that allowed opponents to gain over 100 yards just seven times in his last 26 contests. Against the pass, three of his four quarterback pressures came on third-down snaps, with two causing interceptions. He also captured quarterbacks in the backfield seven times.

Odrick's passionate and dedicated efforts in the weight room and conditioning have helped him increase his speed and strength and evolve into a physically imposing presence that can make plays all over the field. Fifteen of his 43 tackles as a senior came in long pursuit. He is a strong, quick and instinctive athlete with tremendous physical attributes that merit an early draft selection.

The Penn State defensive tackle has often been compared to the Pittsburgh Steelers' standout lineman, Aaron Smith, and not just because they wear the same jersey number.

He is built like the Steelers' defensive end, sheds blocks and stuffs the run like him and was used in much the same selfless manner with the Nittany Lions.

The style and resemblance is so uncanny that, if you close your eyes, you can almost see Odrick in a Steelers uniform. Not that it is a far-fetched possibility. In a recent interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley praised the senior defensive tackle, noting, "One of the great things that impressed me is that he can do so many things. He's never been a personal stat guy."

Odrick was a Parade and U.S. Army All-American selection as a senior at Lebanon High School. He was rated the sixth-best defensive tackle in the nation by Scout.com. He also added first-team All-State honors and was a Big 33 Classic selection. After his final year, he played in the 2006 U.S. Army All-American Bowl with future Nittany Lions teammates Maurice Evans and A.J. Wallace.

As a senior, Odrick recorded 70 tackles, with 10 stops for losses, five sacks and three blocked kicks. He registered 80 tackles, including 18 behind the line of scrimmage, eight sacks and 60 "pancake blocks" as a two-way tackle during his junior season.

Odrick played in 10 games as a true freshman, lining up behind Jim Shaw and josh Gaines at right defensive end for Penn State in 2006. He was on the field for 125 plays, but managed just four tackles, including his first career sack in the Minnesota clash.

Odrick shifted to left defensive tackle as a sophomore, starting seven of the team's first eight games before the injury bug arrived. He broke two bones in his left hand vs. Wisconsin and the following week, he dislocated his right ankle vs. Indiana, missing the final five contests. He posted 16 tackles (8 solos) with two sacks, four stops for loss and a blocked kick.

Odrick returned bigger and stronger in 2008, starting 11 games at left tackle in 2008. The junior registered 41 tackles that included 4.5 sacks. He caused a fumble and made 9.5 stops for loss, including one that resulted in a safety vs. Michigan. He would participate in 661 plays for PSU.

When Odrick was named All-American in 2009, it marked the 94th time that Penn State had a grid performer achieve that status (80 players total, with several multiple choices), as 77 of those national accolades came during the Joe Paterno era.

The Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year had 43 tackles with seven sacks and 11 stops behind the line of scrimmage, as the Nittany Lions ranked second in the Big Ten and ninth in the nation in total defense (274.46 yards per game) and placed sixth in the FBS in run defense, allowing only 89.85 yards per game on the ground.

Pass rush: Has good height, strength, agility and length to be a consistent penetrator. Bowled over many college linemen with his bull rush and seems to be in motion with the snap of the ball. Has some shiftiness and is able to penetrate with a swim or an inside-out move when blocked one-on-one. Uses his hands to discard linemen. Disrupts passing lanes with his long arms and big hands, keeping his eyes in the backfield. Can accelerate to the quarterback after initial contact but does not have elite quickness or change-of-direction ability to come back and make the sack or chase down plays in the backfield.

Run defense: Usually holds his ground inside or pushes back against double-teams. Disengages from blocks to get back into the play and has made stops four or five yards downfield. Not quick enough laterally, but uses his strength to move down the line while engaged on stretch plays. Must be more aware of protecting his knees from cut blocks.

Explosion: Good quickness and pop off the snap. Able to knock his man back a step or two into the pocket. Improved his get-off as a senior playing the three-technique and is able to consistently penetrate from that spot.

Strength: Brute strength makes him a tough assignment in pass protection for college linemen. Stacks his man and rips off in either direction to fill a hole. Pushes the pocket as a pass rusher, even when double-teamed. Plays tall but controls the line on almost every snap when straight-up or doubled.

Tackling: Solid wrap tackler inside because of his strength and length at the point. Lacks the change-of-direction ability to regularly rein in elusive ballcarriers or make plays from behind. His height also prevents him from consistently breaking down in space.

Intangibles: Work ethic and consistency of effort have been questioned in the past, but he appeared to turn a corner in 2009. Cited for disorderly conduct and fined for a February 2009 early morning fight in downtown State College.

NFL Comparison: Fili Moala, Indianapolis Colts

Odrick started 31-of-44 games at Penn State, recording 104 tackles (47 solos) with 14.5 sacks for minus-97 yards, 25.5 stops for losses totaling 121 yards and five quarterback pressures … Caused a fumble, blocked two kicks, recorded a safety and deflected five passes … Became the 80th player in school history to earn All-American honors (for a total of 94 times), including the 77th since Joe Paterno became the Nittany Lions' head coach.

Odrick earned All-American first-team honors from the American Football Coaches Association and CBS Sports, adding second-team accolades from the Associated Press and Rivals.com, along with third-team accolades from The NFL Draft Report and The Sporting News … All-Big Ten Conference first-team choice and named the league's Defensive Player of the year by the Big Ten's coaches, becoming the first defensive lineman to receive that honor since 1993 … Also chosen Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year, but mysteriously, was just a second-team All-Big Ten pick by the league's media …

Started all 13 games at left defensive tackle, recording a career-best 43 tackles (17 solos) as he ranked seventh in the Big Ten with seven sacks for minus-61 yards, adding eleven stops for losses of 72 yards … Also delivered four QB pressures, as he had one pass deflection and blocked the second kick for his career … Made eight third-down stops vs. the ground game, holding opposing ballcarriers to minus-24 yards on 43 running plays directed at him … Stopped eight rushing attempts at the line of scrimmage for no gain …

Three of his four pressures came on third-down plays … Allowed just four first downs, all on running plays, while participating in 721 snaps.

Odrick's return from a dislocated ankle during the 2007 season was critical to the success of a defensive line that was hit hard by the injuries and attrition at the start of the season …

He started 11 games at left defensive tackle, coming off the bench vs. Coastal Carolina in the season opener and again vs. Iowa … Earned All-Big Ten Conference first-team honors, as he recorded 41 tackles (19 solo) with 4.5 sacks for minus 24 yards, 9.5 stops for losses of 33 yards and one quarterback pressure … Also caused a fumble and deflected three passes while participating in 661 plays … Registered a safety vs. Michigan … Helped the team rank eighth in the nation in rush defense (93.2 yards per game).

Odrick won a starting assignment at defensive tackle and started seven of the first eight games before suffering back-to-back injuries that ended his season … Came off the bench vs. Michigan, as he totaled 16 tackles (8 solo) with two sacks for minus-11 yards, four stops for losses of 15 yards, a pass deflection and a blocked kick while appearing in 366 plays … Odrick sustained two broken bones in his left hand in the 38-7 victory over Wisconsin in mid-October and returned the following week to start at Indiana. But, in the first quarter vs. the Hoosiers, he suffered a dislocated right ankle, ending his season.

Odrick played in 10 games and made four tackles (three solos), with his first career sack in the win at Minnesota … A reserve right defensive end, he made two solo tackles vs. North-western and also had a solo stop vs. Michigan State … Was on the field for 125 snaps.

2007: Suffered two broken bones in his left hand vs. Wisconsin (10/13) … The next week, he left the Indiana clash (10/20) in the first quarter with a dislocated right ankle, missing the team's final five contests.

Campus: 5.09 in the 40-yard dash … 1.78 10-yard dash … 2.94 20-yard dash … 4.59 20-yard shuttle … 7.22 three-cone drill … 29-inch vertical jump … 8'10" broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 26 times … 34-inch arm length … 9 3/4-inch hands.

Odrick attended Lebanon (Pa.) High School, playing football for head coach Bill Giovino …

Parade and U.S. Army All-American selection as a senior … Rated the sixth-best defensive tackle in the nation by Scout.com … Added first-team All-State honors and was a Big 33 Classic selection … Played in the 2006 U.S. Army All-American Bowl with future Nittany Lions teammates Maurice Evans and A.J. Wallace … As a senior, Odrick recorded 70 tackles, with 10 stops for losses, five sacks and three blocked kicks … Registered 80 tackles, including 18 behind the line of scrimmage, eight sacks and 60 "pancake blocks" as a two-way tackle during his junior season.

Graduated in December, 2009 with a degree in Sociology … Born Jared T. Odrick on 12/31/87 … Resides in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.