Jared Odrick Will Join Sedrick Ellis On The Saints First Line Of Defense

How does a defensive line of Will Smith, Alex Brown, Sedrick Ellis and Jared Odrick sound to you Saints fans?

By late Thursday night, it will be a reality.

The New Orleans Saints will use the final selection of the first round on Penn St. defensive tackle Jared Odrick, a man the legendary Joe Paterno called one of the best defensive lineman he has ever coached in his 44 year career.

"[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 told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Matt Millen, who played defensive tackle for us, is the same kind of guy."

Lofty praise considering Millen was a great player on four Super Bowl teams and a first-team All-American at Penn St. He's got the size at 6-foot-5, 296. He made seven All-America teams and was the Big Ten's defensive player of the year.

Odrick joined former All-American ends Michael Haynes (2002) and Courtney Brown (1999), and linebacker LaVar Arrington (1998) as the only Penn State players to win All Big Ten player of the year honors.

"It's definitely an honor," Odrick told reporters, "but it's not like I was sitting there waiting, looking at my watch, saying 'When are they going to call for the player of the year award?'

"It definitely was a surprise, but it wasn't something that I got blown away by. I am happy and it was great to see that I got some respect from the coaches around the league."

Here is why Gregg Williams loves him and here is why he will be donning the Black-n-Gold soon.

In 2009, He led Penn State with six sacks and has 10 tackles for losses. He also blocked a field goal and ranked fifth on the team with 41 tackles entering the Lions' game against LSU on New Year's Day.

Six sacks. 10 tackles for losses. A blocked field goal.

Gregg Williams loves playmakers and Jared Odrick has the resume. He has a knack for making making big plays. The reallly monumental game-changing plays that win Super Bowls.

The Saints most glaring defensive weakness last year was clogging the middle. Pedestrian running backs gashed them up the middle at will all season long. Odrick clogs up the middle. The Penn State media tells us Odrick is quick enough to overpower opposing lineman and strong enough to fight through double-team blocks.

"Jared's a big-time player, I've been saying that all year," defensive coordinator Tom Bradley told the Gazette in December. "I think he's the best 3-technique guy in the country."

Said center Stefan Wisniewski, "He is by far the best defensive lineman I have ever played against. I really do believe he is the best defensive player in the Big Ten. I was glad to see he got the recognition he deserved."

"He is really physical and plays really low. He is explosive and is very good with his hands at getting off blocks. He's very tough to handle."

And he has the kind of character that Sean Payton seeks.

"It has been a great experience here for me. ... Throughout the process, I was coached by some of the best coaches in the country. I had some great teammates along the way to help me get where I am," Odrick said.

Come Thursday night the Saints will have a modern version of the Fearsome Foursome.