DT Taylor blowing up

After tackling the Elite College Combine full force and winning defensive MVP honors, Maryland defensive tackle Phillip Taylor certainly impressed college coaches. Now the offers are flying in for the player who could be the next big thing on the defensive line from the Old Line State.

"I think I really showed them my ability to get off the ball," he said. "I also showed my quickness, agility and power."

Taylor ran 5.16-second 40-yard dash, a 4.97-second shuttle and showed impressive agility in one-on-one drills.

With a standout performance from the 6-foot-4, 330-pounder, the Clinton (Md.) Gwynn Park prospect picked up some major offers. In the last week, Taylor has received five more offers from Tennessee, Florida, Boston College, Notre Dame and Oklahoma.

"I like Florida and Tennessee's team prestige. I've been looking at both of them for a long time," he said. "I've got a former teammate, Louis Hinnant up at Boston College, but he plays basketball. He's told me a lot about it. I don't know much about Notre Dame, but I'm looking forward to seeing what they have to offer.

"Oklahoma came to my school and offered me and I like them a lot. I especially like that they've made it to the championship game two of the last three years. All the schools are about the same interest level for me. I like all of them very much."

Besides Oklahoma, Taylor had Ohio State visit recently. He has also received some phone calls from coaches, although he states they all sort of say the same thing.

Taylor is still considering attending the Maryland summer camp, but with 18 offers, the lineman doesn't have to do the summer camp tour. However, he said he's considering unofficial visits to Virginia, Penn State, Tennessee and Georgia this summer.

This upcoming season Taylor is looking to improve even more.

"I'm working on my quickness and my feet to get more lateral on the ball," he said. "I'm looking for a state championship this year. We've got the team to do it. My goal personally is to get All-American and that is it."

Taylor is also impressive in the classroom with an impressive 3.38 GPA.