Stephen Paea, DT

Wide as a Coke machine and just as difficult to move, Paea (pronounced pie-uh) has developed into one of the nation's best run-stuffers. His development is staggering in the sense that he signed with Oregon State having only played three years of organized football.

A highly touted rugby player, Paea moved to the United States at age 16 and began playing football and learning the English language at that time. With only one season at Timpview High School, Paea signed with Snow Junior College, where he helped the Badgers finish the 2007 regular season undefeated and eventually ranked No. 3 in the country.

With Oregon State in 2008, Paea earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors with 41 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and five sacks. Despite being the object of every opponent's blocking scheme, Paea was similarly effective in 2009, registering 43 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and tying the school record with four forced fumbles. Pac-10 offensive linemen voted him the Morris Trophy as the conference's most dominant defensive lineman. Even more impressively, Paea repeated as the Morris Trophy winner in 2010, registering similar tackle numbers (45) and roughly doubling his efforts behind the line of scrimmage (10 TFLs, six sacks). He again posted four forced fumbles, giving him the school record of nine over his career.

Paea is a bit of a one-trick pony. He isn't agile enough to put consistent pressure on the quarterback at the NFL level. His ability to tie up blocks in the middle will lead teams to look at him closely over the first 50 picks of the 2011 draft no matter what scheme they utilize.

Pass rush: Doesn't provide much in terms of a pass rush. Is able to split gaps due to his burst off the snap, but doesn't have quick feet or agility to chase down the quarterback. Relies on his bull rush to knock interior linemen into the pocket and flush the passer into the arms of teammates. Lacks the height and arm length required in consistently altering passing lanes.

Run defense: Is quick enough to surprise his opponent with a burst through the gap, but will make his NFL millions due to the fact that he is a natural run plugger due to his short, squatty build and rare upper- and lower-body strength. Can be knocked off the ball when double-teamed, but flashes the ability to split them and is rarely pushed far before he's able to plant his legs in the ground and create a pile. Doesn't have the lateral agility and balance to beat runners to the sideline, but hustles in pursuit.

Explosion: Fires off the snap low and hard, flashing a sudden burst that surprises opponents. Burst is short-lived and only extends to his ability to go straight upfield. With his strength and bowling ball-like frame, Paea can explode into the ballcarrier if he gets a running start.

Strength: Ranks as one of the country's strongest players, reportedly boasting a 600-pound squat, 500-pound bench press and the ability to churn out 44 repetitions of 225 pounds. Is even stronger than his weight-room numbers indicate due to his natural leverage. Doesn't disengage from blockers as well as his strength would indicate due to the need to refine his hand technique and average lateral agility.

Tackling: Stays squared and low to knock down the ballcarrier near the line of scrimmage. Flashes explosive hitting ability, with a proven ability to knock the ball free. Tied the OSU record with four forced fumbles in 2009. Good upper-body strength to drag down ballcarriers as they attempt to go past him. Doesn't have the speed or change of direction to offer much in pursuit.

Intangibles: High-effort player was voted a team co-captain in 2009, in his second year in the program as a junior. Proved his toughness in 2008 by playing the final month of the regular season despite a painful bursa sac injury in his knee. Born in New Zealand, grew up in Tonga and dreamt of becoming a professional rugby player. Learned the English language after moving to the United States at age 16.

Paea was a consensus All-American for the 2010 season and was named the Pac-10 Conference's Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year. In addition, he was honored as the recipient of the league's Morris Trophy for the second straight year as the league's top defensive lineman. Paea finished the season with 45 tackles, including 10 tackles-for-loss and six quarterback sacks. He also caused four fumbles during the season and is the new OSU record holder for career forced fumbles with nine. He was a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award, presented to the nation's top defensive player, and was named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week after OSU's 36-7 victory over No. 20 USC. The native of Tonga started 37 games after arriving on campus as a sophomore. He concluded his career with 129 tackles and 14 quarterback sacks.

Co-recipient of the Pac-10's Morris Trophy, given annually to the league's top defensive lineman as voted on by the league's offensive linemen … Bronko Nagurski Award Watch List … All-Pac-10 First Team … Ted Miller of ESPN.com ranked him the 24th best player in the Pac-10 prior to the season … team-leading 8.5 tackles for loss and co-leader for sacks with three … tallied 3.0 sacks against UCLA … forced two fumbles each against UCLA and at Oregon … four forced fumbles ties the OSU single season record … recovered a fumble against Portland State … co-team captain.

Paea made an immediate impact on the Beavers' defense … Bruce Feldman of ESPN.com picked him as having the eighth best performance in a bowl game for being a "disruptive force" … bothered the last month of the season with a bursa sack on his knee, forcing him to miss the start of the season finale … 41 tackles for the season, including a career-high 6 vs. California and WSU … 11 TFLs and five sacks -- impressive numbers for a tackle in the OSU system … College Football News Sophomore Second Team … Pac-10 Honorable Mention.

Helped Snow to an undefeated regular season and national ranking of No. 3 … redshirted in 2006 … graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree early so that he could enroll at OSU … was a teammate of current Beaver Sioeli Nau.

Played just his senior season, where he was an all-region selection … Rivals.com three-star athlete … also participated in the shot put.

Born May 11, 1988 in Auckland, New Zealand … son of Peniamin (Ben) and Ana Paea … has four siblings, including twin brother Will and younger brother Pora who plays at Foothill Community College in California … three years of experience playing football entering OSU after growing up in Tonga playing rugby, a sport he once aspired to play professionally in New Zealand - still plays in the offseason at OSU … did not speak English until coming to the States … moved to the U.S. when he was 16 … part of his decision to attend OSU was the Polynesian culture that exists on campus … participated in the "Learning Through Listening: Native American Issues in Rural Oregon Communities during spring break, involving five days of interacting with the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians … majoring in sociology.