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It's no secret that Jared Odrick is a guy I want on my team, I'm no fan of Penn State, I am a fan of the player. I was impressed last year, I was even more impressed with the improvements he made this year, and having a great week at the Senior Bowl has done nothing to suggest that he won't be a success at the next level. From what I saw, he was head and shoulders above the rest of the defensive lineman this week, and no offensive lineman seemed to be able to cope with him, including Idaho's impressive Mike Lupati.
NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock has been as impressed as anyone with Odrick this week:
"The fact that he's got a great motor and had great production in college is his highest testament," said Mike Mayock, a draft analyst for the NFL Network. "He's got great size, his motor runs all the time, and he's smart and tough. It will be tough for some of those teams at the end of the first round to pass on him."
His lateral movement has been held against him when talking about playing outside, as a college DT, moving outside to the five technique defensive end in the 3-4. However I really haven't seen that many limitations on his movement. He runs well, he has good strength and power, he has been getting off blocks better this week, and his motor is non stop.
His work ethic is superb, he loves the game of football (something that has been held against Vernon Gholston), the day after States victory over LSU he flew to Atlanta to continue his training. He accepted the invitation to the Senior Bowl, and as soon as the game is over, he will fly back to Georgia to continue his preparations for the combine.
He is your jack of all trades, master of none. He isn't flashy, but he gets the job done, he is a run stuffer, but can get into the backfield and after the QB. He holds the point well, and rarely gets forced backwards, at 6-5 and 301lb's he is not an easy man to move around. A three year starter who improved his production each and every year, which culminated in him having 7 sacks, 43 tackles and 11 tackles for a loss in 2009.
- First-team All-American (2009)
- Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (2009)
- Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year (2009)
- 2× First-Team All-Big Ten (2008, 2009)
- High School All-American USA Today, Parade, U.S. Army (2005)
More after the jump:
He has a long frame, with big hands, uses his bull rush well, as well as having a decent inside out move, gets off the snap better than most, and seems to know the precise moment the ball will be snapped to get leverage, has a good initial burst, and can penetrate consistently into the backfield.
Work ethic and personality had been questioned pre 2009 because of an incident which resulted in him getting citied for disorderly conduct. However he seemed to turn a corner and everyone seems to have positive things to say about Odrick's enthusiasm to get better. Posting his best season statistically while also facing more double teams than previous years is just one indicator of this.
I have asked around to see which teams scouts were showing interest in him this week, the Eagles were the team that was mentioned most often, along with San Diego. Any team looking for defensive line help between selections 20-40 are going to be taking a look at this player. So although it has not been confirmed, there is no doubt in my mind that the Jets will beat least be taking an interest in this player.
I actually think that with his initial burst and speed off the snap, he will transition well to a defensive end, and might well be able to utilise his talents at that position with his length and size combination.
Joe Paterno who has coached some outstanding defensive lineman has even compared him to some of the best to ever pull on the Nittany Lions shirt, in Matt Millen and Mike Read.
Paterno rattled off the names of Matt Millen and Mike Reid, two first-team All-Americans, and he also mentioned Steve Smear, a second-team All-American who played alongside Reid on the Nittany Lions' undefeated teams in 1968 and '69.
"[Odrick's] played really well, he's a great leader on the field and he reminds me a lot of the good ones we've had," Paterno said. "Matt Millen, who played defensive tackle for us, is the same kind of guy."
"Odrick is an outstanding football player, and I think that he deserves everything he's got," Paterno said. "He's been a leader. He practices hard. He even played hurt. He practiced hurt. He's a big-time player."
Here are some of the highlights and lowlights, presented by the Pro Draft Party, look for number 91. I wanted to include some of the highlights of what he doesn't do so well to get a fair balance. Some highlight packages make some of the most mediocre players look outstanding because they omit areas that need to be worked on. Very few players enter the NFL as a finished product, he does need to work on his leverage, and he does need to continue working on disengaging from blocks, both of these are apparent in the video. However it also shows his motor, it shows some of his inside moves, his bull rush and his vision and awareness:
I also wanted to include this feature which is just Odrick getting back to his roots, with some quotes from people who know him, people who grew up with him, it just shows how big sports were as part of his upbringing. They talk to his former high school coach along with family members. Also for a player who's character has previously been called into question, It offers another look at him.