So, Who is Phil Taylor?

• 2011 Senior Bowl
• 2011 NFL Draft Scouting Combine
• 2010 All-Big 12 honoree

Huge lineman anchored line during All-Big 12 senior season... Started in 2011 Senior Bowl... 2011 NFL Scouting Combine invitee... Two-year starter and former transfer from Penn State... Played all 25 games at BU, started 22... Rated nation's No. 10 defensive tackle by Phil Steele... Has squatted 665, benched 455 pounds and power cleaned 400 pounds... Traveled to Kenya for mission trip with Baylor student-athletes in May 2010.

2010 (Senior): Starting nose guard in all 13 games, All-Big 12 honoree as senior... Earned second-team All-Big 12 honors (league coaches, AP, Columbia Tribune, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Kansas City Star, Phil Steele, Rivals.com, San Antonio Express-News, Waco Tribune-Herald)... Named to ESPN.com All-Big 12 Bowl team... Named second-team "All-Texas" by Dave Campbell's Texas Football publication... One of eight Bears to start all 13 games... Totaled 62 tackles (35 solo), seven for loss including two sacks, three QB hurries, two pass breakups and one forced fumble... 62 tackles most by BU interior lineman since 2002 (76 by Ethan Kelley)... Seven TFL ranked second on squad... Made five tackles at No. 4 TCU in third game... Set then-career-high with eight tackles (six solo) vs. Texas Tech in sixth game... Tied then-career-high eight tackles, also one sack (eight yards) and forced fumble in win at Colorado... Made five tackles including 10-yard sack in win vs. Kansas State in eighth game... Had five stops (four solo), hurry and PBU at Texas in ninth game... Made seven tackles (five solo) and PBU vs. No. 16 Oklahoma in 12th game... Had career-high 10 tackles in final collegiate game in Texas Bowl vs. Illinois.

2009 (Junior): Played all 12 games and started nine at defensive tackle as junior in first season at Baylor in 2009... Earned first Baylor letter... Totaled 25 tackles (2.5 for loss), an assisted sack, five QB hurries, two blocked kicks and one interception on season... Made more than half (13) of season's tackles (25) in first three games... Battled turf toe injury through middle portion of season... Made big splash in Baylor debut in season-opening win at Wake Forest, had four tackles (two solo) including one for loss and made career-first interception... Had four tackles, one QB hurry and blocked field goal (44-yard attempt on last play of first half) in second game vs. UConn... Had season-high and career-high-tying five tackles and an assisted sack in win over Northwestern State in third game... Made second kick block, PAT in third quarter, vs. Kent State in fourth game... Suffered turf toe injury in fifth game at No. 19 Oklahoma, limited and did not start following two games at Iowa State and vs. No. 14 Oklahoma State... Returned to starting lineup and had three tackles and two hurries vs. Nebraska in eighth game... Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of Year selection by media.

2008 (Redshirt): Transferred to Baylor from Penn State in September 2008, sat out season in compliance with NCAA Division I transfer policy but practiced with team... Redshirted to retain eligibility... Selected to spring 2009 Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll.

At Penn State (2006 & 2007): Played freshman (2006) and sophomore (2007) seasons at Penn State... Member of defensive line in 2007 that ranked seventh nationally in rushing defense (93.8 ypg), allowed only three runs of longer than 18 yards in 449 attempts and held opposition to nine rushing touchdowns in 13 games... Slowed early in season due to knee injury sustained during preseason drills but quickly returned to action and started Nittany Lions' final five games... Played 12 games... Credited with 20 tackles, 12 solo efforts, with 6.5 tackles for loss resulting in loss of 26 yards... Tallied 3.0 sacks, good for loss of 18 yards, and recovered two fumbles... Sixth on team in minus-yardage hits... Recorded five tackles, three solo efforts, and a sack at Michigan State... Backed that effort with five-tackle performance that included one tackle for loss against Texas A&M at Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas... Also made two tackles each against Notre Dame, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio State... Both tackles against Indiana were behind line, including one sack... Also recovered fourth-quarter fumble against Indiana... Saw action on 410 snaps, including 59 against Texas A&M and 58 at Michigan State... Made collegiate debut as true freshman against Michigan in 2006... Played season's final seven games... Logged 53 plays, including 14 against Illinois and 12 against Temple.

High School: Prepped at Gwynn Park High School in Clinton, Md.... Played offensive and defensive line for head coach Dan Hayes... Earned first-team all-state and Washington Post first-team all-metro honors as senior... Registered 77 tackles with 10 sacks that season... Recorded 30 tackles during junior campaign with two sacks and a forced fumble... Also credited with 30 pancake blocks along offensive line as junior.

Personal: Full name is Phillip Eugene Taylor... Born April 7, 1988...Graduated in December 2010 with degree in general studies. 

Analysis

Pass rush: Though his job is usually not to provide primary pass rush, he can push the pocket with strength and flashes quickness off the snap and a swim move to get past lesser centers. Gives good effort to reach the quarterback if he sits in the pocket too long. Tries violent hands to shed blocks. Not very effective on inside twists, though he can take out the left tackle when twisting outside to free up the defensive end. Once stood up by initial contact, it's tough for him to re-start his rush.

Run defense: Shows excellent strength and mobility as a run defender. Plays with leverage against double-teams and keeps his shoulders square to the line of scrimmage. Pushes back his man and spins off single and tandem blocks with balance to make the play. Moves down the line well, stays low despite his height to wrap up shorter backs. Willing and able to reach the sideline, takes deep angles to prevent huge runs. Defeats cut blocks and maintains balance to track down ballcarriers. Gets low in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Does not dominate smaller centers. At his best when used in a rotation.

Explosion: Explodes from four-point stance into blockers, consistently getting push up front. Gets off low and quick near goal line to set the line backwards. Despite his size, flashes the quickness to penetrate the "A" gap. Requires double-teams to keep him out of the backfield.

Strength: Huge frame and upper-body development give him the strength to be a 3-4 nose tackle at the next level. Moves offensive linemen to either side with relative ease when covering two gaps. Forces fumbles with one hand punching at the ball while ballcarrier comes through the hole. Uses leverage to hold the line against double teams.

Tackling: Running backs get swallowed up when crossing his path, and he can separate the ball from a ballcarrier with pure strength. Stays low despite his height and will capture backs from behind if they have not yet hit their stride. Chase and hustle are impressive for his size, will chase backs down the line, help linebackers make stops at the second level, and takes deep angles to chase down running backs 20 yards down the sideline.

Intangibles: Sprained his knee in 2007 preseason at Penn State, losing starting job to future first-round pick Jared Odrick. Charged with felony aggravated assault during a fraternity function at a Penn State student union in October 2007; the charge was eventually dropped. Really turned up his game the second half of 2010; scouts could see that as maturity or wonder if he can maintain that level of play.

Compares to: Kris Jenkins, Jets -- Big and powerful, Taylor projects nicely as an interior player in both the 4-3 and 3-4 alignments.