Darrell Taylor announces he will return to Tennessee in 2019

Tennessee edge rusher Darrell Taylor had a pretty strange season. He emerged as a legitimate NFL prospect during the Georgia game, where he racked up three sacks and kept Tennessee breathing against the Bulldogs. He topped that performance against Kentucky, putting four more sacks on the board as the Vols upset the Wildcats.

Outside of those two games, Taylor got home to the quarterback just one more time all year long. It was a single sack against Vanderbilt to close the season. Taylor ended with eight, but registered sacks in just three games. Strange year.

Taylor had the opportunity to leave early for the 2019 NFL Draft, but he’s instead decided to stay at Tennessee for his senior season.

The 6-4, 247 pound pass rusher has all the makings of what the NFL wants on the edge. The consistency just wasn’t there this year. With another year of work and development, Taylor will have a chance to improve his draft position.

Taylor will be a key piece for the Vols in 2019. They’re still working to find pass rushers to mix into this defense, so keeping Taylor was big with nothing proven behind him.