Ollie Ogbu is tired of hearing the same question year after year.
Asked if Penn State's defensive line would take a step back after Jared Odrick was selected in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft, the defensive captain didn't hesitate.
"Well, Aaron Maybin was a first round draft pick [in 2009] and so was Jared. And they both came year after year," Ogbu said. "So we kind of build off that."
While Ogbu is reminded he's the only senior on the Nittany Lions' defensive line every time he walks into the meeting room, he's certain the team's young talent will make the line just as good as last year's.
"Every year I feel like people say the same thing, 'How good is your D-Line gonna be? You lost this All American or that All American,' but every year we keep having guys step up and play," Ogbu said.
Part of the reason for Ogbu's optimism comes from the amount of praise defensive tackle Devon Still received.
Even Joe Paterno, who isn't one to just hand out compliments, said the redshirt junior was already a good player last year.
Despite playing in the shadow of Odrick, the 6-foot-5-inch, 311-pound tackle spent the offseason doing something Odrick did so well: getting off the ball fast.
"If I can get off the ball fast enough, I can create more havoc in the backfield," Still said. "And whenever you can create havoc in the backfield, it's a good thing."
With Ogbu expected to see more than his share of double teams at nose guard, Still said he hopes he can capitalize on his one-on-one matchups, and like Odrick, make a name for himself at a position that receives little accolades.
Redshirt sophomore James Terry is backing up Still, and because of the way defensive line coach Larry Johnson runs practices, Still said every player has improved.
Sophomore Jordan Hill and redshirt sophomore Brandon Ware, are playing behind Ogbu.
But the entire success of the defensive line won't rest solely on the performance of its interior players.
Junior Jack Crawford, who started every game at defensive end last season, will have redshirt junior Eric Latimore to compliment him on the right side. While Latimore started six games last year and recorded 3.5 sacks, moving into the role of a full-time starter is something he'll have to get used to.
With an inexperienced quarterback and reshuffled offensive line, Ogbu said the defense doesn't feel it has to carry the team.
"A defense is only meant to stop somebody," he said. "You could have the best offense in the World or the worst offense in the World. As a defense, you still have to go out there and stop somebody.
"So there isn't any added pressure this year or any other year that I've been here. It's always, go out there and be one of the top defenses in the nation."
