55 - Darryl Tapp

Position: Defensive End
Class: Senior
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 265 lbs.
High School: Deep Creek
Hometown: Chesapeake, Va.

 

2005 Highlights
· A candidate for the Hendricks Award, given to the nation's top collegiate defensive end
· A candidate for the Bednarik Award, given to the outstanding defensive player of the year
· A candidate for the Lott Trophy, given to the college defensive player of the year who has the biggest impact both on and off the field
· A candidate for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, given to the national defensive player of the year

One of the nation's top defensive ends ... A preseason All-America pick by Athlon ... An explosive performer who is coming off a big season ... Was a first-team All-ACC pick ... Led the team in sacks, tackles for loss and quarterback hurries last year ... Enters the fall as the No. 1 man at the end position ... Plays hard and fast ... Has made himself an outstanding player through hard work ... Has dedicated himself to the strength and conditioning program ... Was named the team's top defensive leader during the spring ... Will be counted on to carry that leadership role over to the 2005 season ...

A Talk With... Where do you see yourself in five years? Happy. I see myself making the most out of whatever the Lord brings my way. Either a career in the NFL or a high-paying job I can have fun with. How would you describe your four years here? There are so many words I want to say. It went by very fast and thinking about things as a senior, I have had happy times and sad times. It has all help to mold me into a good person. What is your favorite memory as a Hokie? It's hard to put a finger on it. Every day keeps getting better and better. What is something not many people know about you? I'm a musician; I play the drums. How do you get ready for a game? Pray. Listen to my gospel music. Mentally, go over plays and basically play the game in my mind. I go over my assignments and how I have to make the play. I'm trying to be mentally ready. Last year I listened to John B. Keys' album, "Strength." How does God play a role in your game? He has given me all the talent I have now. I am trying to serve him the best way I can right now but playing to the best of my ability. If the NFL is not in your future, how will you use your degree? I want to work for an athletic company and design their commercials. Who is your biggest influence on the team? James Anderson. We are from the same place. We have been knowing each other for at least 15 years. When I'm down, he picks me up. When he's down, I'm able to pick him up. We are pretty much brothers in every sense of the word. What will you miss most about Virginia Tech? Seeing the people I have grown up with for the last four years. Teammates and students in general. What makes Virginia Tech special from any other program? The atmosphere and the coaches. The coaches love you like you are their own kids and we are there for one another. The general student population cares about you. And of course, our fans.

2004: Started all 13 games, registering 26 solo tackles and 34 assists ... Included in those 60 tackles were 16.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks ... Also had 23 quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, a pass break up, an interception and a blocked kick ... Saw action on 440 defensive snaps and 104 on special teams in the regular season ... Led the team with nine tackles, including a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss, in the opener against USC ... Had four assisted tackles and three quarterback hurries against WMU ... Also blocked a punt, his first career block ... Recorded six tackles, including 2.5 sacks, in the win over Duke ... Had five tackles, including one for a loss, and five quarterback hurries in the win over West Virginia ... Had a busy first eight minutes against Florida A&M ... Picked up a sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery, quarterback hurry and interception ... Played just 15 snaps in the game ... Had four tackles, including two sacks, at North Carolina ... Had just one tackle against Maryland, but it was for a loss ... Picked up five tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and a fumble recovery, in the win over Virginia ... Had two tackles at Miami, both of which were for losses ... Included in that total was a sack ... Had five tackles in the Sugar Bowl against Auburn ... Given the President's Award, awarded for outstanding leadership, following spring practice ... Missed the early part of spring practice with a bruised clavicle ...

2003: Was one of just four returning players to meet all six of his goals in preseason strength and conditioning tests ... Played in every game, starting four ... Was in for more than 400 defensive snaps and over 225 plays on special teams ... Compiled 58 total tackles, including 32 solos ... Posted nine tackles for loss, including three sacks ... Also had 17 quarterback hurries and a forced fumble ... Played 40 snaps on defense against UConn, registering five solo tackles, one of which was for a loss, an assist and three quarterback hurries ... Got the start at Rutgers and tallied two solo stops, both for a loss, three assists and three quarterback hurries ... Had five solo tackles and four assists at West Virginia ... Earned Super Iron Hokie honors in both the preseason and spring ... Set a position record for defensive ends with a 660-pound back squat during the spring ... Also had a 415-pound bench press and a 340-pound push jerk ... Was the team's top defensive performer during spring practice ...

2002: A true freshman who saw his fair share of playing time on both defense and special teams ... Saw action in all 14 games ... Recorded nine solo tackles and 12 assists ... Also had three quarterback hurries and a pass broken up ... Scored the game's first touchdown against Virginia, scooping up a blocked punt and returning it 11 yards for the score ... Earned Super Iron Hokie honors 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 ...

High School: Recorded 22 career sacks while helping Deep Creek to a 34-4 record during his three varsity seasons ... Excelled as a defensive end for Coach David Cox ... Earned first-team all-Group AAA honors from the state coaches following the 2001 season ... Was a second-team pick by The Associated Press ... Named first-team All-Southeastern District, All-Tidewater and All-Eastern Region ... Was in on 89 tackles his senior season, including a school-record 15 sacks ... Recovered five fumbles ... Posted three sacks against both Hickory High and Booker T. Washington ... Earned preseason All-America honors from Tom Lemming's Prep Football Reports ... Selected an All-American and rated the No. 2 defensive lineman in the Atlantic Region by PrepStar following his senior season ... Ranked the No. 38 weak-side end by Rivals ... Rated the No. 14 player in Virginia by SuperPrep and the No. 15 player by The Roanoke Times ... One of just three juniors to start on offense and defense for Deep Creek in 2000 ... Played in all 14 games and posted eight quarterback sacks ... Earned first-team all-district honors ... Helped team to the state championship game as a junior and to a regional championship in 2001 ... Lettered three seasons in basketball ... Also lettered as a weight man in track ...

Personal: Darryl Anthony Tapp ... Born 9/13/84 in Portsmouth, VA ... Son of Charles, Sr., and Ruth Tapp ... Majoring in marketing.