Football coaches across the nation in 2009 confirmed what Penn State opponents from the past three seasons already knew — Jared Odrick is a beast to try and contain. The highly-skilled, tough and physical athlete has been a disruptive force at the line of scrimmage, forcing double-teams throughout the season and allowing teammates opportunities to make plays when he isn’t corralling the ball carrier or quarterback. The American Football Coaches Association recognized his vast talents by selecting him a first-team All-American. He also received All-American honors from the Associated Press, Sporting News, CBSsports.com and Rivals.com. He is the 80th Penn Stater to be named a first-team All-American a total of 94 times and is the 77th player so honored under Joe Paterno. Odrick is the sixth Penn State defensive lineman to earn first-team All-America accolades since 1999. The Big Ten coaches selected Odrick the 2009 Defensive Player-of-the-Year and Defensive Lineman-of-the-Year. He became the first interior defensive lineman selected for the Big Ten’s top defensive honor since Ohio State’s Dan Wilkinson in 1993. Odrick garnered first-team all-conference honors for the second consecutive year. The former U.S. Army All-American at Lebanon High School was ranked No. 7 in the Big Ten with 7.0 sacks. He was fifth on the team with 43 tackles and had 11.0 tackles for loss (minus-72), a big blocked field goal and a pass breakup. Odrick has a relentless motor and attitude and has played a significant role in helping Penn State rank in the Top 10 nationally in five of the six primary defensive statistical categories. Penn State has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in the last 16 games, the nation’s third-longest streak. Odrick recorded four tackles and two TFL in the season-opening win over Akron. He helped hold the Zips to eight first downs (none in the first half), 28 yards rushing and 186 total yards. In the win over Syracuse, he made a season-high six stops, including half a sack. The tenacious and assertive Odrick had a sack for a seven-yard loss in the win over Temple and made three tackles against Iowa. Odrick had one of his best career games in the win over Eastern Illinois with five tackles, 3.5 TFL and two sacks. His two sacks tied for a career-best (Iowa 2008) and the 3.5 minus-yardage hits were a career-high. Odrick recorded four tackles, including 1.5 TFL and one sack against Minnesota in a stellar defensive effort resulting in a 20-0 shutout. The Lions limited the Golden Gophers to 37 rushing yards and 138 total yards. Odrick recorded five solo tackles in the 34-13 win at Northwestern, including one sack for minus-10 yards on Northwestern’s first play of the third quarter. His efforts contributed to a strong defensive effort in the second half as the Nittany Lions held the Wildcats to zero points. He also blocked a 37-yard field goal late in the first half. The block was the first by a Penn State player since Odrick blocked an attempt against Florida International in the first game of the 2007 season. He recorded three stops each against Ohio State and Indiana, helping hold the Hoosiers to 49 yards on 24 carries. Odrick tallied two tackles and a quarterback hurry in the 42-14 win at Michigan State. He helped the Lions limit the Spartans to 17 points below their season average and just 94 rushing yards. Odrick made two tackles in the Capital One Bowl win over LSU, recording a big sack (minus-16). He helped
hold the Tigers to nine first downs and 41 rushing yards, forcing three turnovers.