ORONO – Pat Pa’u is an imposing figure on the defensive line for the University of Maine football team. At 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, the senior tackle from Ayer, Mass., is a force with which to be reckoned.

Pa’u (pronounced pow) is one of the primary reasons opponents of the Black Bears have limited success running the football.

Last Saturday at Delaware, coach K.C. Keeler admitted the Blue Hens severely altered their game plan and threw the ball frequently.

“We knew just lining up and trying to run the ball against them just wasn’t going to work,” Keeler said.

Pa’u, a mainstay of the Bears’ defensive line for three-plus seasons, leads the unit into Saturday’s 3 p.m. Atlantic 10 game at Richmond.

“The D-line has gelled together,” Pa’u said. As the weeks have gone on, we’ve started picking it up.”

Playing defensive tackle often doesn’t produce gaudy statistics. In four games this fall, Pa’u has registered 16 tackles and three pass break-ups.

The numbers don’t tell the story, according to UMaine coach Jack Cosgrove.

“It’s to the point now where I think he is looked upon as one of, if not the, top defensive lineman in the conference,” Cosgrove said. “Patrick hasn’t lit up the conference statistics with sacks or tackles for losses, but he’s a guy who does his job in such a great and profound way that the other parts of our defense get to function and perform at a high level.”

Pa’u enjoys the hand-to-hand “combat” that occurs between linemen in the trenches.

“I’m trying to be around the ball every play,” Pa’u said. “It’s tough getting tackles out there because we’ve got some great athletes around us.”

Pa’u is quick to compliment his teammates. The show of respect and unselfishness may stem from his Samoan heritage.

His parents, Muaau and Regina, are natives of American Samoa, small islands in the South Pacific. There, honor and social standing are shared by one’s extended family.

Pa’u has “Samoan” tattooed on his right arm and “Pride” on his left arm. He often wears a necklace made of large black and white seeds called an ‘ula.

“We wear it just for fashion or sometimes for good luck,” said Pa’u, who especially enjoys Samoan food cooked by his mother and his aunts.

Pa’u is the veteran on UMaine’s D-line. He anchors a unit that includes classmate and close friend Marcus Walton and a handful of less-experienced players.

Another of Pa’u’s responsibilities is to put pressure on the quarterback and get sacks or hurries. When that doesn’t happen, like last week, it can be difficult to handle.

“It’s frustrating, but you’ve just got to work harder,” Pa’u said. “I won’t stand a chance going against a 300-pounder straight on, but I have my speed to advantage, so I put myself on the move and try to make something happen.”

The consistently strong play exhibited by Pa’u has drawn the attention of National Football League scouts, several of whom continue to evaluate him. Cosgrove said Pa’u’s speed and the potential for him to get even bigger are key selling points.

Cosgrove likened him to the late Justin Strzelczyk, a former UMaine lineman who was a 260-pounder for the Bears but played in the NFL at 300 pounds.

“He’s a great lateral runner,” Cosgrove said. “He stays on his feet and is great side to side, running guys down.”

Pa’u admits playing in the NFL is his first big long-term goal. However, he has his sights set on a family trip to Samoa after graduation in May.

In the meantime, Pa’u will try to help UMaine earn an Atlantic 10 title and reach the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs.