In joining Charlie’s Top PSU moments, we’ve added another daily countdown feature here at NittanyWhiteOut. We’re measuring up the 50 most important players to Penn State’s success in the 2009 season.

Checking in at #3 is the glue that will hold Penn State’s defensive line together in 2009: Jared Odrick.

Number: 91
Position: Defensive Tackle
Class: Senior
Height: 6’5
Weight: 306
Hometown: Lebanon, PA
How’d He Get Here: Despite monstrous size coming out of high school–Odrick was listed at 285 pounds coming out–it wasn’t defensive tackle that Odrick played, but rather defensive end, in addition to tight end and offensive tackle.  It was on defense where Odrick excelled.  In his final two years, Odrick put up over 150 tackles, 25 for a loss, and 13 sacks, and saw himself named a Parade All-American.  Named to the Army All-American game, Odrick was rated a 4-star tackle by both Scout and Rivals, each of whom also ranked Odrick as a top-10 defensive tackle.  In the end, Odrick chose Penn State over such schools as Florida, Georgia, and Virginia Tech.
2008 Results: Odrick had battled through injuries in his first two seasons at Penn State, and it didn’t seem like he was poised to make a huge impact in his junior year.  However, the pre-season dismissals of Phil Taylor and Chris Baker forced Odrick, and the other tackles, to move up on the depth chart.  Odrick relished his newfound starting role.  Quickly becoming a highly disruptive force in the middle, Odrick accumulated 42 tackles, 9.5 for a loss, with 5 sacks, including a sack on Michigan’s Nick Sheridan that resulted in the game-turning safety.  Named to the All-Conference team following the 2008 season, Odrick couldn’t have asked for a better year in his first as a starter.
What to Expect in 2009: There seems to be a war of attrition along the defensive line.  Whether its injuries (Pete Massaro and Brandon Ware) or off-the-field issues (Abe Koroma), what was once looked at as a position of great depth is now dangerously thin.  It’ll be up to Odrick to maintain his steller play, especially as new starters at defensive end look to gain a foothold.  For Odrick, the important thing is as much occupying two blockers and freeing up rush lanes for other Nittany Lions as it is penetrating the backfield himself, and if he can pick up where he left off last year, it could mean big dividends for Jack Crawford and Jerome Hayes.
Random Fact: It’s not just Penn State fans who see something in Jared Odrick.  In fact, heading into the 2009 season, Odrick finds himself on the watchlist for the Nagurski, Outland, Bednarik and Lombardi awards.
The Final Word: Last year, Odrick’s hard work in the trenches more often benefitted Aaron Maybin that it did himself.  Maybin found himself an early first round pick in the NFL draft, and he owes a great deal of that success to his former teammate.  Though defensive tackles won’t put up those kinds of stats, Odrick was just as important a member of the Lions defense a year ago as Maybin, and he’ll find himself doing more of the same in 2009.  Odrick is also such a phenomenal athlete that he lined up at defensive end as a freshman, and often last year as well.  His future might well be as a 3-4 defensive end in the pros, and Penn State could opt to use that formation in 2009, with Brandon Ware plugging the middle.  No matter what base defense Penn State uses, Odrick will find a way to distinguish himself as one of the best defenders not just on the team, but in the conference.

Releated Posts:

1. Counting Down the Lions: #6
2. Counting Down the Lions: #5
3. The Penn State All-Decade Team: Defensive Tackles
4. The Big Ten Media Can Suck It
5. Counting Down the Lions: #4

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