Terrance Taylor

A three-year starter at nose guard, Taylor's squat, thick frame resembles a fire hydrant, but he attacks blockers like a runaway fire truck. Taylor delivered one of the best performances in the weight room at the 2009 NFL Combine, recording 37 repetitions bench-pressing 225 pounds. Strength has always been his biggest asset. He set Michigan prep records with a 500-pound bench press, 680-pound squat and a 670-pound dead lift. At Muskegon High, Taylor earned EA Sports All-American and Class A Player of the Year in Michigan honors from the Detroit Free Press. He was an All-State pick and a member of The Detroit News Dream Team at defensive tackle as a junior and senior. He added All-Conference, All-Area and All-State honors his senior year, as he was rated the third-best player in the state by The Detroit News and the nation's sixth-best defensive tackle by Tom Lemming. Taylor was ranked as the third-best player in Michigan by Rivals.com, picking up All-American honors from Super Prep, in addition to being named the nation's sixth-best defensive line prospect on Student Sports Hot 100 recruits list. As a junior, he captured All-Conference, All-State and Grand Rapids Press Dream Team accolades. The four-year starter on both the offensive and defensive line, Taylor recorded 203 tackles during career, including 38 sacks, eight fumble recoveries and one interception. He led Muskegon to a 14-0 record and the state championship as a senior, posting 55 tackles, 20 for loss and added 16 hurries. He also collected 85 tackles and eight sacks in his junior campaign. Taylor was state champion in power lifting as a sophomore, junior and senior. He was the undefeated heavyweight wrestling state champion as a senior and ranked third in the state as a junior. He compiled an 89-6 career record in wrestling, including a 24-0 mark as a senior. He also threw the shot put and discus on the track team. His best shot put was 57 feet and his best discus throw was 161 feet. Taylor enrolled at Michigan in 2005, but saw limited action in nine games, finishing his freshman year with just one solo tackle. He had a stellar 2006 preseason camp, forcing the team to shift Alan Branch out of the nose guard position in favor of the sophomore, who would start 11 contests. He produced 23 tackles (12 solo) that year, including a sack and five stops for losses. In 2007, Taylor captured second-team All-Big Ten Conference honors. He started all 13 games at nose guard, going on to deliver a career-high 55 tackles (28 solos), leading the team's down lineman while becoming the first Michigan defensive tackle to post 50 tackles in a season since Josh Williams in 1997 (53). He also had 8.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including 3.5 sacks while blocking two kicks. The new coaching staff named Taylor team captain for the 2008 season. He was an All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention, starting 12 games at nose guard. He contributed 35 tackles (16 solos), 1.5 sacks, four stops for loss and recovered two fumbles. He also blocked the third kick of his career.

positives

Prime NFL nose tackle candidate. ... Plays with good leverage, keeping his pad level low and square and getting his hands high and inside. ... Does not move much against double teams, holding his ground against the run. ... When fresh, he gets off the ball and pushes the center into the backfield to blow up inside runs. ... On occasion he can quickly knife through the A-gap to get pressure on the quarterback. ... Will chase downfield at times. ... Plays with a mean streak. ... Voted team captain in 2008.

compares to

JIM BURT, ex-New York Giants -- Taylor was tailor made to play for Bill Parcells in Miami. He needs some hard coaching and the right 3-4 system to become a classic garbage man in the trenches. When he gets a good angle, he attacks the ballcarrier with intent, getting good collision upon contact. While he can make plays behind the line of scrimmage, he seems more comfortable in his role of handling combos and stacking at the point of attack. For a player of his size, he shows good quickness, along with strength and proper pad level. He plays with good body lean and has the power to stack and control.

negatives

Short and not in great shape. ... Does not shed blocks when straight-up on his man, but makes plays when lined up on the shoulder of the center or guard. ... Better conditioning could help him get off the ball and collapse the pocket consistently. ... Doesn't get his hands up often enough to break up passes. ... Exposed a bit at the East-West Shrine Game for being a bit of a one-trick pony. ... Makes piles in short-yardage situations but does not stay on his feet consistently enough to stop the runner.

No major injuries reported.

Combine: 5.22 in the 40-yard dash

1.78 10-yard dash

3.00 20-yard dash

5.06 20-yard shuttle

7.78 three-cone drill

30-inch vertical jump

8'8" broad jump

Bench pressed 225 pounds 37 times

32 3/8-inch arm length

9 3/8-inch hands. Campus: 5.08 in the 40-yard dash

1.72 10-yard dash

2.88 20-yard dash

31-inch vertical jump

9'1" broad jump

500-pound bench press

670-pound dead lift

680-pound squat.

Attended Muskegon (Mich.) High School, playing football for head coach Tony Annese

Earned EA Sports All-American and Class A Player of the Year in Michigan honors from the Detroit Free Press

All-State pick and a member of The Detroit News Dream Team at defensive tackle as a junior and senior

Added All-Conference, All-Area and All-State honors his senior year, as he was rated the third-best player in the state by The Detroit News and the nation's sixth-best defensive tackle by Tom Lemming

Ranked as the third-best player in Michigan by Rivals.com, picking up All-American honors from Super Prep, in addition to being named the nation's sixth-best defensive line prospect on Student Sports Hot 100 recruits list

As a junior, he captured All-Conference, All-State and Grand Rapids Press Dream Team accolades

Four-year starter on both the offensive and defensive lines

Recorded 203 tackles during career, including 38 sacks, eight fumbles recoveries and one interception

Led Muskegon to a 14-0 record and the state champion-ship as a senior, posting 55 tackles, 20 for loss and added 16 hurries

Posted 85 tackles and eight sacks in his junior campaign

State champion in power lifting as a sophomore, junior and senior

Was the undefeated heavyweight wrestling state champion as a senior and ranked third in the state as a junior

Compiled an 89-6 career record in wrestling, including a 24-0 mark as a senior

Threw the shot put and discus on the track team

His best shot put was 57 feet and his best discus throw was 161 feet.

General Studies major, enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts

Attended 2003 and 2004 Michigan Summer Football Camps

Born Terrance Terlie Taylor on 5/14/86

Resides in Muskegon, Michigan.