Senior defensive tackle Jared Odrick (Lebanon) has become Penn State’s 94th first team All-America selection.
The standout was selected to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America Team, the first All-America squad to be announced for the 2009 campaign. The AFCA, which chooses one team, has selected an All-America team annually since 1945.
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.
Odrick is Penn State's sixth defensive lineman to earn first team All-America honors in the past 10 years, joining Courtney Brown, Michael Haynes, Jimmy Kennedy, Tamba Hali and Aaron Maybin.
"This is a great honor," stated Odrick, who is one of two Big Ten players on the AFCA team. "There are a lot of great D-linemen across the country, so I'm flattered to receive this award. I think this honor speaks about the play of our defense as a whole all season. I'm privileged to be joining some of the great Penn State defensive linemen who have been All-Americans."
A relentless and tenacious leader for Penn State’s stalwart defense, Odrick is a three-year starter who has been double teamed by every opponent throughout the season. He is ranked No. 8 in the Big Ten 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.
The former Lebanon High School All-American has been instrumental in the Nittany Lions earning Top 10 national rankings in five of the six primary defensive statistical categories. The Lions also lead the nation in Red Zone defense (65.4 pct., 17 of 26).
According to the latest NCAA statistics, the Nittany Lions are No. 4 nationally in scoring defense (11.8 ppg), No. 8 in total defense (2770 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 has helped Penn State to not allow 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.
Penn State (10-2) concluded its regular season with a convincing 42-14 victory at Michigan State, posting Paterno's Football Bowl Subdivision record 21st season with at least 10 victories.
The No. 11 (BCS) Nittany Lions are 50-13 (79.3) since the start of the 2005 season, the nation's No. 8 winning percentage over that span. Penn State is awaiting the destination and opponent for its 36th bowl game under Paterno, who is the all-time leader in post-season appearances and victories (23-11-1 record).
The final BCS standings will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox and all bowl selections will be announced by 8:30 p.m.