Position: Defensive End
School: Virginia Tech
Status: Senior
Height: 6-1
Weight: 268
40-Yard Dash: 4.75 (EST)
Positives:
Darryl Tapp has one of the best bursts off the snap of any DE in college football. His pass-rushing has become steadily better as his career with VT has advanced, and that's always a good thing to see. He plays bigger than his size, using his smallish height to gain leverage, and has a huge motor that never shuts off. Also, Tapp is a tremendous special-teams player, a trait becoming more and more common of VT's stars.
Negatives:
At 268 pounds, Tapp is smaller than most teams want their defensive ends to be. His smaller frame lends concerns that he won't be able to hold up the point of attack as well in the NFL, and that he'll get swallowed up by NFL OTs, which would make him a liability against the run.
Overview:
If Tapp can continue the steady improvement that he's shown the past few years, he could be something special in the NFL, if only as a passing-downs guy and special teamer, like the Colts' Robert Mathis. Teams adjusting to the 3-4 may look at him as a guy to convert into a 3-4 OLB, as he has shown ample coverage skills in the zone blitzes that VT tends to use.