'15 VA DE Darrell Taylor (UT Signee 2/4/15)

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#507
Top247 defensive end Darrell Taylor commits to Tennessee Vols

For the second time in a matter of hours, Tennessee added an elite defensive lineman to its 2015 recruiting class Friday night.


Top247 defensive end Darrell Taylor of Hopewell (Va.) High School announced his commitment to Tennessee on Friday night.

This one came as a bit more of a surprise.

Top247 senior defensive end Darrell Taylor of Hopewell (Va.) High School announced Friday night that he has committed to Tennessee, choosing the Vols over Virginia Tech and Florida.

Taylor made his decision known at halftime of Hopewell's home game against Thomas Dale High School of Chester, Va.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Taylor gave Tennessee its 24th known commitment for the 2015 class and its second from a Top247 defensive lineman in a span of less than six hours. Five-star defensive tackle Shy Tuttle of North Davidson High School in Lexington, N.C., announced his commitment to the Vols on Friday afternoon.

Taylor became the fourth defensive end in Tennessee's class, joining four-star Andrew Butcher of Alpharetta (Ga.) High School, three-star Marques Ford of East Bay High School in Gibsonton, Fla., and three-star Dylan Jackson of Maryville (Tenn.) High School.

Taylor is ranked the nation's No. 210 overall prospect and No. 12 weakside defensive end in the 247Sports Composite for the 2015 class.

He holds scholarship offers from Virginia Tech, Florida, Michigan, Michigan State, Miami, Ohio State, Penn State, South Carolina and Virginia in addition to Tennessee.

Virginia Tech was viewed for months as the favorite to land Taylor leading up to his announcement. He's a cousin of Virgina Tech commitment Tabyus Taylor, a former Hopewell standout who's now at Atlanta Sports Academy.

But Tennessee moved toward the top of Darrell Taylor's list after hosting him in July for its second "Orange Carpet Day." He's being recruited for the Vols primarily by Zach Azzanni, Tennessee's wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator.

Taylor still is expected to visit at least a couple of other schools, including Virginia Tech, in the coming months.
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~Ryan Callahan - 247

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#516
#516
Bang bang!! Double boom today! Please, oh please, let's boom one more time tomorrow...say around 3-330ish!
 
#525
#525
In a game Hopewell needed to win after dropping their first two of the season, Taylor came up big as Hanover High School was in the red zone looking to deliver a finishing blow with just eight minutes remaining. The Hawks had used the screen-pass for devastating gains all game long and Taylor sensed they were going to use the same play again.

As the ball was snapped, Taylor recognized the play and deftly backpedaled his way into coverage before zeroing in on the opposing quarterback's eyes as he raced up, intercepted the pass and took it 67 yards into the end zone for a touchdown without ever being touched.

And it's the way he left the Hawks in the dust with his speed and athleticism that is symbolic of the way his recruiting has gone. It started slowly as the injuries hurt some of the attention, got warmer as teams recognized his talent just like how Taylor eyed the quarterback and has been on fire since like the way his interception return jump-started Hopewell.

Whatever team Taylor does decide on attending starting in the Fall of 2015, one thing is certain. They are getting a player who not only has tremendous talent, but a desire to get better after having to earn everything that has come his way, and that's what makes him almost certain to have success wherever he goes.
Taylor's Stock Rises

Darrell Taylor is also 6-5, but lighter at 228 pounds. He, too, can play defensive end or outside linebacker in college, depending on how much weight he gains. “His skill set is so unique,” Irby said. “His ability to play a hybrid defensive position is what makes him so valuable.”

At the end of his junior season, Taylor was 6-4, 210. Then he put on another 18 pounds of muscle and got an inch taller.
Defensive linemen head Richmond area

Taylor had eight catches for 78 yards and a BCS-level tackle when he stopped what should have been a Coombs touchdown run at 31 yards. The 6-5, 227-pound Taylor ran down Coombs from behind in the open field. At least on this play, Taylor bested Hanover’s game plan for him.

“Get away from him – run away from him,” Stoudt said. “He would go up there, we would look at [the formation] and we would run the opposite way from him because he’s just so rangy.”
Hawks celebrate past and present victories - Mechanicsville Local: Sports
 
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