INDIANAPOLIS -- Penn State's Jared Odrick did more than wear the same number as Aaron Smith. He is built like the Steelers' defensive end, sheds blocks and stuffs the run like him and was used in much the same selfless manner with the Nittany Lions.

The style and resemblance is so uncanny that, if you close your eyes, you can almost see Odrick in a Steelers uniform. Not that it is a far-fetched possibility.

"One of the great things that impressed me is that he can do so many things," Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley said. "He's never been a personal stat guy. Sometimes in our defense he's not doing glamorous stuff. He doesn't draw a lot of attention to himself. Like, last year, he opened up lot of stuff for Aaron Maybin to make plays."

Sound like anyone you know?

Bradley called Odrick "the best three-technique in the country," football nomenclature for a defensive tackle position in the 4-3 defense. That is what Odrick, the Big Ten Conference defensive player of the year, played for three seasons at Penn State.

But defensive tackles in a 4-3 defense become defensive ends -- or a "five-technique" -- in a 3-4 defense, and that is what Odrick would be if he were taken with the 18th overall pick by the Steelers.

"I think I bring a lot of versatility at multiple positions that I've played before and am capable of playing in the future." Odrick said.

Odrick is considered among the top five defensive tackles in the draft, usually ranking behind Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy of Oklahoma and somewhere between Brian Price of UCLA and Dan Williams of Tennessee. Odrick measured 6 feet 5, 304 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine.

But, after running times of 4.98 and 5.04 in the 40-yard dash Monday at Lucas Oil Stadium, it's possible he could be the first defensive tackle selected after Suh and McCoy, who are expected to be among the first three picks, if not the first two.

"He was a dominant football player for us," Bradley said. "He's a big guy with great movement. And he takes great pride in what he does. When he comes out to practice, he comes out with a purpose. He's always trying to find out ways to get better."

Odrick seemingly has all the prerequisites the Steelers look for in their defensive linemen. He wouldn't be much of a project for defensive line coach John Mitchell, who likes to strip away everything his pupils already have learned to teach them the Steelers way.

Even though he played on the interior at Penn State, Odrick showed the ability to disrupt plays in the backfield and even pressure the quarterback. He is strong enough to move double-teams and quick enough to chase plays down in pursuit.

And he is a lean and fit 304 pounds, meaning he has plenty of room on his frame to easily add another 10-15 pounds.

"I like to think I'm a high-character guy," Odrick said. "I get along with everybody on the team. I'm somebody who's going to work hard. You're going to get a hard worker out of me, somebody who is going to fight for a starting spot and earn respect. That's what you're going to get when you're dealing with Jared Odrick."

Director of football operations Kevin Colbert said the signing of nose tackle Casey Hampton last week to a three-year, $21.3 million contract will not have any effect on the Steelers' decision to draft a defensive lineman in the first round. They need youth and depth on the line to develop a better rotation and get players ready to replace Hampton and Smith, who will be 34 in April.

"Teams have come to this draft looking at all of us," Odrick said. "If you want to stand out, this is a chance to kind of separate yourself."

Looking a lot like Aaron Smith should help.

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