Dec. 14, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Senior defensive tackle Jared Odrick (Lebanon) and junior linebacker Navorro Bowman (District Heights, Md.) have earned berths on the CBSsports.com All-America team.
Odrick was named to the first team and Bowman was a second team selection.
Odrick and Bowman also were named to the ESPN.com All-Big Ten team, being joined by senior quarterback Daryll Clark (Youngstown, Ohio), junior tailback Evan Royster (Fairfax, Va.) and junior center Stefen Wisniewski (Bridgeville). Penn State and Iowa led with five honorees apiece.
Earlier this month, Odrick was selected to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America Team, becoming Penn State's 94th first team All-America selection.
The 2009 Big Ten Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman of the Year, Odrick is the 80th Penn State football student-athlete to earn first team All-America recognition, a total of 94 times, dating back to W.T. (Mother) Dunn's selection to the Walter Camp All-America squad in 1906.
Odrick is the Nittany Lions' 77th first team All-American under Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno. Penn State has had at least one All-American in 39 of his 44 years as head coach, with eight first team All-America selections in the past five seasons.
The former Lebanon High School All-American is Penn State's sixth defensive lineman to earn first team All-America honors in the past 10 years, joining Courtney Brown (1999), Michael Haynes (2002), Jimmy Kennedy (2002), Tamba Hali (2005) and Aaron Maybin (2008).
A two-time first team All-Big Ten honoree, Odrick is a three-year starter who has been double teamed by every opponent throughout the season. He is ranked No. 8 in the conference with 6.0 sacks for minus-45 yards. Odrick is fifth on the team with 41 tackles, has 10.0 tackles for loss (minus-56 yards), with one blocked field goal, one pass break-up and three quarterback hurries.
Bowman finished the regular season by earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors in Penn State's last two games, wins over Indiana and Michigan State. He leads the team with 15.5 TFL (minus-55) despite missing 2 ¾ games with an early season injury. Bowman is No. 2 nationally among all linebackers in TFL with a 1.55 average and No. 10 nationally overall in minus-yardage hits.
Also a two-time first team all-conference selection, Bowman is second on the team with 84 hits, good for No. 7 in the Big Ten in tackles per game (8.4 avg.). The former Suitland High School standout also has three sacks, is tied for team lead with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries and has three pass break-ups.
Odrick and Bowman have been instrumental in the Nittany Lions earning Top 10 national rankings in five of the six primary defensive statistical categories. The Lions also are tied with Alabama for No. 1 in the nation in Red Zone defense (65.4 pct., 17 of 26).
According to the final NCAA regular season statistics, the Nittany Lions are No. 4 nationally in scoring defense (11.8 ppg), No. 8 in total defense (277.0 ypg), No. 10 in rushing defense (93.9 ypg and No. 19 in pass defense (183.2 ypg). Penn State also is No. 7 in tackles for losses per game (99, 8.25 avg.) and No. 8 in sacks (35, 2.9 avg.).
Penn State leads the Big Ten in scoring defense, tackles for loss and sacks, is second in rushing and total defense and third in pass defense. Eight opponents scored 14 points or less on the Lions this season.
Odrick and Bowman have been instrumental in Penn State not allowing a 100-yard rusher in its last 15 games, the nation's third-longest streak. Seven Nittany Lion opponents have gained less than 100 rushing yards this season.
The No. 11/9 Nittany Lions (10-2) will play No. 13 LSU (9-3) in the 64th Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1, 2010. The second all-time meeting between the teams will kick at 1:00 p.m. in Orlando, Fla. and air on ABC, Sports USA Radio and the Penn State Sports Network. Penn State will be playing in its fourth different New Year's bowl game in the last five years.
For ticket information on the Capital One Bowl, go to Bowl Central at www.GoPSUsports.com/gameday.
Penn State is 50-13 (79.3) since the start of the 2005 season, the nation's No. 8 winning percentage over that span. Penn State will be playing in its 36th bowl game under Paterno, who is the all-time leader in post-season appearances and victories (23-11-1 record). The Nittany Lions were No. 13 in the final Bowl Championship Series rankings.
Penn State has earned its 24th New Year's bowl bid under the Hall of Fame coach, who owns a 16-7 mark in such contests. The Nittany Lions have posted Paterno's Football Bowl Subdivision record 21st season with at least 10 victories.