Vols Football: Profiles on All New Defensive Signees

Darrell Taylor, Defensive End

Tennessee’s defensive ends were some of their most dynamic players in the 2014 season, and the 2015 class only helped add more talented players to that position.

Darrell Taylor is a 6-4, 230 lbs defensive end out of Hopewell, Virginia who was rated a four-star defensive end out of high school. His 40-yard dash time was clocked in at 4.6 seconds, underscoring his great athleticism.

Taylor is a talented pass rusher who was lost among the bigger names in Tennessee’s 2015 class. He has the frame to add a good deal of weight without losing his explosiveness, and his speed and awareness will pay off at the next level for the Vols.

As a junior, Taylor racked up 54 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, four forced fumbles, and an interception. Taylor was able to fly around the field and pressure quarterbacks consistently in high school.

Taylor may be one of the more undervalued and unheralded recruits in the class despite his relatively high ranking. The defensive end position is stacked heading into the 2015 season, but Taylor should eventually become more than a role player and could be something special for the Vols.