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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 ¼-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.