With The First Pick
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Darrell Taylor: The sleeper EDGE of the 2020 NFL Draft

By Felix Davila

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 04: Darrell Taylor #19 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts after sacking TaQuon Marshall #16 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 4, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 04: Darrell Taylor #19 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts after sacking TaQuon Marshall #16 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 4, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Darrell Taylor
ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 04: Darrell Taylor #19 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts after sacking TaQuon Marshall #16 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 4, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

The origin of Darrell Taylor

Originally, Taylor was focused on basketball at Hopewell High School. Despite being a dual-sport athlete, he skipped his sophomore year of football just to hone his skills on the court. His size and frame were so enticing, however, that his cousin convinced him to switch permanently to football, returning to the field for his junior season.

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Eventually, his talent began to flash, including an intercepted screen pass he returned for a touchdown to win a game. It was moments such as this that inspired him to pursue football and consider the offers on his plate.

The former four-star recruit was seen as the #11 recruit in all of Virginia and the #14 defensive end in the nation according to 247Sports 2015 composite rankings. That placed him among the likes of current NFL players like Josh Sweat, Clelin Ferrell, Arden Key, and Tim Settle in the same recruiting class, suggesting that the sky was the limit for such a talented player. After a meeting with then coach Butch Jones, Taylor signed with Tennessee.

Currently a redshirt senior, Taylor was hardly the leader he is considered today. During his redshirt sophomore season, Taylor was suspended indefinitely for fighting. First, it was a half game suspension resulting from an ejection for fighting versus Georgia. Then, it was extended after a fight during the bye week with teammate Trey Smith, forcing Smith to get stitches after an alleged kick to the face.

Remarkably, Taylor has since seemingly turned over a new leaf, being voted a team captain by his teammates, and deciding to return for his redshirt senior season this year because he wished to finish school and do better for Tennessee football. Such hard work has resulted in attention from NFL scouts, personnel, and draft analysts alike, including With the First Pick. He’s also officially accepted his invite to participate in the 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl:

Big things are ahead for the Vols EDGE and he’s got the film and resume to back it up.

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