Darryl Tapp

Following in the footsteps of Bruce Smith, Cornell Brown and Corey Moore, Tapp emerged as Tech's next great defensive lineman. Like the others mentioned above, Tapp's ability to penetrate the line of scrimmage, collapse the pocket and sack the quarterback made him a dominating defensive presence for the program.

Tapp excelled as a defensive end at Deep Creek High School, where he earned first-team All-Group AAA honors from the state coaches following the 2001 season. He was named first-team All-Southeastern District, All-Tidewater and All-Eastern Region as a senior. Tapp was selected an All-American and rated the second-best defensive lineman in the Atlantic Region by Prep Star. Super Prep also rated him the No. 14 player in Virginia.

In his final prep season, Tapp recorded 89 tackles, including a school-record 15 sacks and recovered five fumbles. He posted three sacks vs. both Hickory High and Booker T. Washington that year. He also registered 22 career sacks while helping Deep Creek to a 34-4 record during his three varsity seasons.

One of just three juniors to start on offense and defense for Deep Creek in 2000, he played in all 14 games and posted eight quarterback sacks, earning first-team All-District honors. He helped the team to the state championship game as a junior and to a regional title in 2001. Tapp also lettered three times in basketball and competed as a weight man in track.

As a true freshman at Virginia Tech in 2002, Tapp appeared in every game as a reserve defensive end. He posted 21 tackles with three pressures. As a sophomore, Tapp played in every game, starting four. He ranked eighth on the team with 58 tackles (32 solos), adding three sacks, nine stops for losses and seventeen pressures.

Tapp moved into the starting lineup as a junior in 2004, earning All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors. He finished third on the squad with 60 tackles (26 solos) and led the defense with 8.5 sacks, 16.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and 23 pressures. He recovered two fumbles, caused another, intercepted a pass and blocked a kick.

Tapp considered entering the 2005 NFL Draft, but decided to return to Tech for the 2006 campaign. He was a first-team All-American and All-ACC pick who was the recipient of the Dudley Award, given to the best player in the state of Virginia. Tapp registered 48 tackles (27 solos) and again led the Hokies with ten sacks, 14.5 stops for losses and 35 pressures. He blocked a kick, batted away three passes and caused three fumbles.

In 53 games at Tech, Tapp started 30 times. He recorded 187 tackles (94 solos) with 21.5 sacks for minus-139 yards, 40 stops for losses of 217 yards and 78 quarterback pressures. He blocked two kicks, intercepted one pass and deflected four others. He also caused five fumbles and recovered two others.

Positives: Built for power, showing a low center of gravity, above average upper body muscle tone, thick legs, tight abdomen and fluid lateral agility … Comes off the ball with an explosive burst, gaining instant penetration, especially when he uses his hands to disengage … Has an instinctive feel for the game and can read on the run and make proper adjustments … Flashes the strength to stack and shed and rarely loses containment, despite his lack of size … plays with leverage, using his hands to control and neutralize the double teams … Can defeat the block with quickness and has the feet to disengage … Will never give up on the play, showing the change of direction agility and lateral range to string plays wide … Hits with a thud and is a secure tackler who does a good job of keeping his pads low … Has exceptional pass rush moves, as he is active with his hands to counter inside and has a spin move to slip past slower offensive tackles.

Negatives: Lacks ideal height and bulk, but has just a little more room to add weight … Has a fine short area burst, but will lose mirror on the receiver if he has to cover long distances (will not win foot races into the deep secondary) … When he fails to use his hands to control, he is quickly engulfed and neutralized … Best playing along the line, as his height issues cause him to struggle some locating the ball when dropping off in zone coverage … Can play off the edge, but does not have the size to be effective plugging holes when working in-line.

Tapp is an undersized defensive end, but has a defined upper body with thick muscles, tight waist and hips, good abdomen definition, thick thighs and calves, low body fat and the potential to carry at least another ten pounds of bulk. Unlike most undersized edge rushers, Tapp is very capable of holding his ground at the point of attack. He is a high-energy type who has the ability to get off the ball and get instant penetration.

Tapp is a quick-twitch athlete whose above average hand usage allows him to disengage and shed and still close on the ball immediately. For a player of his size, he generates very good strength and leverage to run over the slower offensive tackles. He has that low center of gravity and power in his anchor that makes it hard for blockers to push him back. He has the instincts to sniff out the play and does a good job of reading and adjusting on the run.

Most undersized defensive ends struggle to play the run, but it is very rare to see Tapp get covered up by the tight end and offensive tackle or lose containment. He is just that rare athlete who knows how to use his strength to control the point of attack (see 2005 Virginia matchup vs. offensive tackle D'Brickshaw Ferguson). Even when taking on double teams, he has good success gaining the split. He uses his hands well to control and get off blocks, and has the foot balance to disengage and leverage from the outside.

One thing you see on film is his lateral movement. He shows good effort in his pursuit and is consistent stringing out the plays. He just does not give up on the play, but while some might consider him a potential linebacker prospect in the 3-4, he does not have the timed speed to be effective in pass coverage. He is best when playing down the line, not when dropping back in the second level, where he can lose sight of the ball.

When Tapp hits a ballcarrier, he generates good force behind his tackles. He has the strength to explode into runners and tries to jar the ball loose. He is also an effective wrap-up tackler who won't miss much when he targets an opponent. His hands are weapons, as he can control and get rid of blockers quickly. He would have trouble getting into the play otherwise at his size. He uses those hands to guard his legs vs. the chop block and continue his flow to the ball.

As a pass rusher, he can generate the short area burst to close, combining that quickness and strength to punish the passer. He has enough burst to accelerate around the corner and close the deal on the passer. He has the loose hips to redirect and takes good angles in pursuit. Adding to his draft stock is his ability to cover punts on special teams and use his leaping ability to block kicks.

While he might not have the explosive speed of a Dwight Freeney (who does?), he is a technically sound player with a great motor and impressive power. If he was four inches taller, he would be up on the draft podium very early in the day.

Produced 18.5 of his 21.5 quarterback sacks, 31 of his 40 tackles for losses and 58 of his 78 quarterback pressures during his last two years of Atlantic Coast Conference competition.

Earned first-team All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association and second-team accolades from The NFL Draft Report … All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team selection … Won the Dudley Award as the top Division I player in the state of Virginia … Finalist for the Ronnie Lott Trophy and Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award … Started every game for the second consecutive year, recording 48 tackles (27 solos) as he again led the team with ten sacks for minus-58 yards, 14.5 stops for losses of 75 yards and 35 quarterback pressures … Deflected three passes and caused three fumbles … Also blocked a kick … Participated in 335 plays on defense and 49 more on special teams during the regular season.

North Carolina State … Opened the season with four tackles, two pressures and a pass deflection … Saved a potential touchdown when he chased down tailback Reggie Davis on a 24-yard run at the end of the first quarter … Head to Head Competition -- OT Derek Morris.

Duke … Only had two solo tackles, but both resulted in sacks totaling minus 6 yards … At the start of the third quarter, Tapp sacked QB Mike Schneider for a 2-yard loss, causing a fumble that Duke recovered … Also sacked Schneider for minus 4 yards in the first quarter … Head to Head Competition -- OT Demetrius Warrick.

Ohio University … Added two solo hits, an 8-yard sack and two stops for losses of 18 yards … sacked QB Austen Everson for an 8-yard loss on a third-and-5 play in the first quarter, forcing OU to punt … dragged down receiver Scott Mayle for a 10-yard loss on a botched reverse in the second quarter … Head to Head Competition -- OT Cole Wesley.

Georgia Tech … Credited with four pressures and four tackles (2 solos) … Took down tailback P.J. Daniels on a third-and-9 run that netted one-yard in the first quarter. On the next play, the Yellow Jackets tried a 35-yard field goal that was blocked and recovered by the Hokies' D.J. Parker, who ran 78 yards for a touchdown … Head to Head Competition -- OT Andrew Gardner.

West Virginia … Posted four tackles (3 solos) and caused a fumble when he stopped tailback Pernell Williams on a first quarter 2-yard run. Tech linebacker Aaron Rouse recovered the ball at the WVa 24, setting up a 10-yard touchdown run by Hokies QB Marcus Vick … Head to Head Competition -- OT Travis Garrett.

Marshall … Did not record any tackles for the first time in his career as a starter and was also penalized five yards for jumping offside in the first quarter … Head to Head Competition -- OT Toby Bullock.

Maryland … Credited with a five-tackle performance, but was penalized five yards for jumping offside on the game's first play from scrimmage … Head to Head Competition -- OT

Jared Gaither.

Boston College … Collected six tackles (3 solos) with a pair of sacks for minus 17 yards and a forced fumble … Pressured QB Quinton Porter on a third-and-10 pass that was incomplete, forcing BC to punt in the first quarter … At the start of the second quarter, Tapp tackled tailback Andre Callender on a 6-yard run, causing a fumble that Porter recovered for BC … Stopped tailback L.V. Whitworth for no gain on a first-and-goal run in the third quarter and then sacked Porter for a 9-yard loss at the start of the fourth quarter … Midway through that quarter, Tapp sacked Porter for minus 5 yards, but the play was called back because BC tight end Chris Miller jumped offside. Three plays later, Tapp got to Porter again and sacked him for an 8-yard loss on a third-and-12 play, forcing the Eagles to punt … Head to Head Competition -- OT Jeremy Trueblood.

Miami … added a pressure and five tackles (3 solos), but was also penalized for a personal foul at the start of the second quarter … Head to Head Competition -- OT Eric Winston.

Virginia … Emerged from a fierce battle against one of the nation's top offensive tackles with six tackles (4 solos), two sacks for minus 9 yards and 2.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage … Teamed with defensive end Chris Ellis to take down tailback Wali Lundy for a 2-yard loss early in the first quarter … Sacked QB Marques Hagans for a 1-yard loss on a third-&13 play in the second quarter, forcing Virginia to punt … Again sacked Hagans for minus 8 yards on a third-and-1 play at the start of the second half … Head to Head Competition -- OT D'Brickshaw Ferguson.

North Carolina … Blocked a kick, produced three tackles with two sacks for minus 15 yards, registered five pressures and deflected two passes … Sacked QB Matt Baker for a 9-yard loss on UNC's game-opening drive … Blocked a 33-yard field goal attempt by Connor Barth at the start of the second quarter and the kick was recovered by defensive end Nolan Burchette, setting up a 1-yard scoring lob from Tech QB Marcus Vick to tight end Jeff King … Followed with a 6-yard sack of Baker … On a third-and-2 play at the start of the fourth quarter, Tapp pressured Baker, who then threw an interception that was picked off by linebacker Vince Hall, setting up a 44-yard field goal by Tech's Brandon Pace … Head to Head Competition -- OT Brian Chacos.

Florida State … Registered four tackles (2 solos), teaming with linebacker Aaron Rouse to stop tailback Leon Washington for a 1-yard loss on the game's first series … Sacked QB drew Weatherford for a 3-yard loss on a second-and-goal play midway through the third quarter … Head to Head Competition -- OT Mario Henderson.

Louisville (Gator Bowl) … Closed out his career with three solo tackles, two stops behind the line of scrimmage and a pressure … Took down receiver Harry Douglas for a 5-yard loss on a botched reverse midway through the second quarter and dragged down tailback Michael Bush for a 1-yard loss on a third-and-1 play in the third quarter … Head to Head Competition -- OT Travis Leffew.

All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team selection … Started all year at right defensive end, finishing third on the team with 60 tackles (26 solos) … Led the squad with 8.5 sacks for minus 54 yards and 16.5 stops for losses of 82 yards … Credited with 23 quarterback pressures … Recovered two fumbles and caused another … Had one interception and blocked a kick … Recipient of the team's President's Award, given for outstanding leader-ship … Played in 440 defensive snaps and 104 more on special teams.

Southern California … Started the season off by sacking QB Matt Leinart for a 6-yard loss, finishing with nine tackles and 1.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

Western Michigan … Blocked a punt and posted four tackles.

Duke … Registered 2.5 sacks for losses of 16 yards and six hits (2 solos).

West Virginia … Stopped tailback Kay-Jay Harris for a 9-yard loss and totaled five tackles.

Florida A&M … In the first eight minutes of the game, Tapp registered a 12-yard sack, caused a fumble that he recovered and intercepted a pass.

Georgia Tech … Took down tailback P.J. Daniels for a 2-yard loss and delivered eight tackles.

North Carolina … Twice sacked QB Darian Durant for losses of 11 yards and picked up four solo hits.

Virginia … Recovered a fumble and made five tackles (3 solos).

Miami … Sacked QB Brock Berlin for a 2-yard loss and delivered two stops behind the line of scrimmage.

Auburn (Sugar Bowl) … Finished the season with a five-tackle performance.

Played in every game, starting vs. Rutgers, Syracuse, West Virginia and Boston College … Patricipated in 411 defensive snap and in 225 more plays on special teams … Recorded 58 tackles (32 solos) with three sacks for minus 27 yards and nine stops for losses of 40 yards … Delivered seventeen quarterback pressures and caused a fumble.

James Madison … Collected six tackles with a stop behind the line of scrimmage.

Texas A&M … Registered his first career sack when he tackled QB Reggie McNeal for an 8-yard loss.

Connecticut … That performance vs. A&M earned him his first career start, responding with six tackles (5 solos), including one that stopped tailback Cornell Brockington for a 6-yard loss and also posted three pressures.

Rutgers … Followed with another three pressures, five hits and two stops behind the line of scrimmage.

West Virginia … Totaled a season-high nine tackles (5 solos).

Miami … Made six tackles with three pressures.

Temple … Collected four tackles (3 solos) with a pressure and sacked QB Walter Washington for an 11-yard loss.

Boston College … Sacked QB Paul Peterson for an 8-yard loss while coming up with two stops behind the line of scrimmage, two pressures and six tackles (4 solos).

California (Insight Bowl) … Posted a pair of hits.

Played in every game as a true freshman, coming off the bench … Finished with 21 tackles (9 solos), three quarterback pressures and a pass deflection.

Arkansas State … Made his collegiate debut with five tackles (3 solos) and a pressure.

Western Michigan … Added another pressure and three hits.

Boston College … Deflected a pass and delivered four tackles.

Virginia … Scored the game's first touchdown, scooping up a blocked punt and returning it 11 yards for the score … Also had an assisted tackle.

ors in the strength and conditioning program during off-season workouts … Posted a 380-pound bench press and 530-pound back squat … Added a 32 1/2-inch vertical jump and a 4.71 time in the forty … Won the Frank O. Moseley Award as the team's top defensive hustler in off-season workouts and spring practice …

2005: Missed part of spring drills due to a left clavicle sprain.

Campus: 4.71 in the 40-yards dash … 415-pound bench press … 660-pound back squat (team record) … 321-power clean … 360-pound push jerk … 34.5-inch vertical jump … 33 7/8-inch arm length … 10 -inch hands … 18/42 Wonderlic score.

Attended Deep Creek (Chesapeake, Va.) High School, playing football for head coach David Cox … Excelled as a defensive end, earning first-team All-Group AAA honors from the state coaches following the 2001 season … Named first-team All-Southeastern District, All-Tidewater and All-Eastern Region as a senior … Selected an All-American and rated the second-best defensive lineman in the Atlantic Region by Prep Star. Super Prep also rated him the No. 14 player in Virginia … In his final prep season, Tapp recorded 89 tackles, including a school-record 15 sacks and recovered five fumbles … Posted three sacks vs. both Hickory High and Booker T. Washington that year … Also registered 22 career sacks while helping Deep Creek to a 34-4 record during his three varsity seasons … One of just three juniors to start on offense and defense for Deep Creek in 2000, he played in all 14 games and posted eight quarterback sacks, earning first-team All-District honors … Helped the team to the state championship game as a junior and to a regional title in 2001 … Also lettered three times in basketball and competed as a weight man in track.

Marketing major … Son of Ruth and Charles Tapp, Sr … Born Darryl Anthony Tapp on 9/13/84 in Portsmouth, Virginia … Resides in Chesapeake, Virginia.