Blessed with exceptional size, strength and toughness, Jared Odrick has an opportunity to emerge as a dominating force in the interior of the Penn State defensive line in his senior season. The 2008 first-team All-Big Ten honoree is the most experienced member of the D-line and will be counted on or leadership and significant contributions this fall. His skills and tenacity often force 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 is disruptive to the opposing team[apos]s rushing and passing attacks. A 2009 Rotary Lombardi Award candidate, Odrick was selected a third-team preseason All-American by Phil Steele[apos]s 2009 College Football and Athlon Sports College Football, in addition to repeating his first-team all-conference honors. Odrick played an instrumental role in Penn State being ranked in the Top 10 nationally in three of the four primary defensive categories last season, including No. 8 in rushing defense at 93.2 yards per game. Only two runners gained 100 yards against the Nittany Lions in 2008, one of whom won the Doak Walker Award as the nation[apos]s top running back. Odrick recorded 41 tackles, with 9.5 TFL (minus-33), 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble and three pass breakups last year. A former Parade Magazine and U.S. Army All-American from Lebanon HS, Odrick delivered one of the biggest defensive plays of the 2008 season. With the score tied, 17-17, in the third quarter, Odrick brought down Michigan quarterback Nick Sheridan in the end zone for a safety, giving Penn State its first lead and sending the Homecoming crowd into a frenzy in the eventual 46-17 thumping. He posted a career-high six tackles, with 2.5 TFL against the Wolverines. Odrick[apos]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 who can make plays. He is a strong, quick and instinctive athlete with tremendous physical attributes that should merit All-America consideration this year. Odrick is on schedule to graduate in December, doing so in 3 1/2 years.
2008 Junior Season
Odrick[apos]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. A starter in 11 games, Odrick emerged as one of the nation[apos]s premier defensive tackles and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors. He played an instrumental role in Penn State being ranked in the Top 10 nationally in three of the four primary defensive categories, including No. 8 in rushing defense at 93.2 yards per game. Odrick recorded 41 tackles, with 9.5 TFL (minus-33), 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble and three pass breakups. He was second on the team in sacks and third in minus-yardage hits. Odrick delivered one of the biggest defensive plays of the season in his best career game. With the score tied, 17-17, in the third quarter, Odrick brought down Michigan quarterback Nick Sheridan in the end zone for a safety, giving Penn State its first lead and sending the Homecoming crowd into a frenzy in the eventual 46-17 thumping. Odrick[apos]s huge play was the overwhelming winner of the Pontiac Game Changing Performance-of-the-Week. He posted a career-high six tackles, with 2.5 TFL against the Wolverines. He recorded three tackles and 0.5 TFL in the win over Illinois and followed with three tackles and half a sack at Purdue. He made a quarterback hit and two pass breakups at Wisconsin. In Penn State[apos]s stellar defensive effort at Ohio State, Odrick recorded four tackles and one TFL in the huge 13-6 win. He posted a career-high seven tackles, with two sacks, and forced a fumble at Iowa. Odrick capped the regular-season with five tackles and one TFL in the 49-18 victory over Michigan State to clinch the Big Ten title. He was on the field for 661 snaps, led by 63 against Southern California in the 2009 Rose Bowl and 61 each against Illinois and Michigan.
2007 Sophomore Season
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. 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 against the Hoosiers, he suffered a dislocated right ankle, ending his season. Odrick was making a positive impact, improving and gaining confidence prior to the injuries. For the season, he made 16 tackles, with 4.0 TFL (minus-15 yards), two sacks and one blocked kick. In his first career start, he made three solo stops, including a sack, in the season-opening win against Florida International. Odrick made a career-high four stops, with 1.5 TFL at Michigan, helping hold the Wolverines to 14 points. He also recorded a sack for a seven-yard loss in the win over the No. 19 Badgers and made two tackles in three other games. He saw action on 366 snaps prior his injury, led by 62 against Michigan and 59 each against Buffalo and Illinois.
2006 Freshman Season
Odrick played in 12 games and made four tackles (three solo), with his first career sack in the win at Minnesota. A reserve defensive end, he made two solo tackles against Northwestern and also had a solo stop against Michigan State. Odrick was on the field for 125 snaps, led by 14 at Minnesota and 13 in the shutout of Temple, as he gained valuable experience.
High School
Odrick was a Parade Magazine and U.S. Army All-American as a senior at Lebanon HS. Rated Scout.com[apos]s No. 6 defensive tackle in the nation, he also was first-team all-state and a Big 33 Classic selection playing for Coach Bill Giovino. Odrick made 70 tackles, with 10 tackles for losses, five sacks and three blocked kicks as a senior. He recorded 80 tackles, with 18 TFL, eight sacks and 60 'pancake blocks' as a two-way tackle during his junior season. Odrick played in the 2006 U.S. Army All-American Bowl with future Nittany Lion teammates Maurice Evans and A.J. Wallace.
Personal
Full name is Jared T. Odrick. He is majoring in sociology and is on schedule to graduate in December. Born December 31, 1987.
Odrick[apos]s 2008 Game-by-Game
Tackles (Total-Solo-Assists)
Coastal Carolina 2-1-1; Oregon State 1-0-1; Syracuse 3-2-1; Temple 1-0-1; Illinois 3-1-2; Purdue 3-1-2; Wisconsin 1-1-0; Michigan 6-2-4; Ohio State 4-2-2; Iowa 7-4-3; Indiana 3-1-2; Michigan State 5-3-2; USC 2-1-1.