"Double-teaming is going to happen, it's part of the game," Odrick said yesterday. "They're going to run plays where they're going to double-team the tackle and that's something I accept. I don't get frustrated any more. I now embrace it and work through it."

Odrick, a senior from Lebanon, Pa., is among the Big Ten leaders in sacks (6.0) and tackles for loss (10.0) going into Saturday's game against 15th-ranked Ohio State at Beaver Stadium. He anchors a run defense that is fifth in the nation, allowing just 84 yards per game.

The all-American candidate is quick, strong, durable and relentless. One would think that after 10 consecutive weeks of practices and games, he would be more tired or ask out of a game for a few plays, but that's not his nature.

"Right now, it's the grind part of the season," Odrick said. "It takes a toll on your body, but it's like that with everybody in the country. But I feel like I can go for six more weeks. Football is great motivation in itself, so I don't have a problem getting physically and mentally ready for the next game if I'm sleeping and eating right."

Joe Paterno has seen many great tackles in his 44 years as Penn State's head coach, and he puts Odrick in a class at defensive tackle with "a lot of the good ones we've had" such as Matt Millen, Mike Reid, and Steve Smear.

"He's right up there as far as his performances," he said. "I think he's done a terrific job. I've said before that he may be kind of an unknown factor sometimes. He's played really well and he's a great leader on the field."

After being named first-team all-Big Ten last season, Odrick flirted briefly with the NFL draft but chose to return for another shot at a conference title and a possible national championship, as well as to graduate, which he is scheduled to do next month.

Now his draft stock for 2010 appears to be on the rise.

NFLDraftscout.com ranks him 17th overall among senior draft prospects - and third at his position, behind Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh and Alabama's Terrence Cody. On ESPN.com, Scouts Inc. has him at No. 31 among seniors and draft-eligible juniors, and fifth at defensive tackle.

Both services suggest Odrick will be drafted early in the second round, with a slim chance he may make it into the first round depending on how he performs at the NFL combine.

Before the start of preseason camp, Odrick said he wanted to play a "more violent" style, to have the upper hand of the opponent trying to block him.

"When you play more violent, you can play faster, and faster means more productive," he said. "But there were a lot of things that I had to improve on and get a whole lot better at."

Don't think people haven't noticed his level of play. Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez called Odrick "as good of an inside guy as I've seen in years." And his teammates are appreciative of what he has contributed.

"You can't ask him to do anything more," said middle linebacker Josh Hull, the Lions' leading tackler. "He squeezes the guards, he squeezes the center, and that allows us to flow free."

Expect Odrick to fight the double teams once again in Saturday's highly anticipated matchup with the Buckeyes, a game in which the winner may be whatever team's offensive line can block more effectively.

"I guess I take some pride in it," Odrick said. "I know it's part of my job in what the defense needs to do as part of the defensive scheme. I understand it.

"But," he added, "at the same time, if I can fight through it and make the play, I'm going to do that. It's football."