July Player Performance Index top 30 deep dive: No. 6 DT Leonard Taylor

CaneSport is breaking down the top 30 Miami players on the roster, and today we’re at No. 6, DT Leonard Taylor:

THE BIG PICTURE

Taylor is really the only proven interior defender on Miami’s line with the departures of starter Darrell Jackson and rotation DT Jordan Miller. But the good news is that Taylor is a guy who can dominate and command double teams that will free up others to make plays – many are projecting him as a first-round draft pick next year. Taylor has the strength and size to move piles combined with the quick burst to get to the QB and disrupt the run game. If there’s an issue here, it’s consistency. Taylor had some games last season where he was making game-changing plays; in other games he disappeared. If Taylor can get after it every single snap he’s in, he will be one of the ACC and nation’s top defensive players.

THE ANALYSIS

Taylor missed the spring coming off injury, but he laid claim last year to being one of the nation’s top returning tackles … although he did have those aforementioned moments of inconsistency. In 329 reps last season Taylor graded out at an elite 87.3 percent per Pro Football Focus (79.5 run defense, 53.5 tackle grade, 85.5 pass rush grade). Comparatively, the year prior as a true freshman, in 200 reps he graded out at 71.7 overall (74.5 run defense, 58.7 tackle, 60.4 pass rush). Taylor is the No. 6 returning player in the nation based on his overall PFF grade, No. 4 in pass rush grade and No. 2 in pass rush win rate (19 percent). As far as his statistics? Taylor played off the bench in nine games as a true freshman two years ago and totaled 21 tackles while tying for the team lead with 7.5 TFL along with two sacks. This past season he ended with 24 tackles, 10.5 TL (tied for team lead) and three sacks along with an interception and a team-high six QB hurries. Taylor hit his stride against Duke and Virginia in games eight and nine with back-to-back elite performances that saw him grade out at 90.0 percent and 90.9 percent per Pro Football Focus, helping earn him some national recognition. But he faded a bit down the stretch, with a 48.6 grade the following game against FSU and then grades in the 60s vs. Georgia Tech and Pitt. His physical tools are undeniable, he just has to learn to be consistently great.

THE PROJECTION

Taylor made a big jump up in his production from Year 1 to Year 2, and the expectation is this will truly be a breakout year for him. Remember, in Kevin Steele’s rotation-heavy system last year Taylor only played a bit less than half the time (329 of 786 total reps). Under new coordinator Lance Guidry we expect Taylor to be on the field a lot more than that, and his statistics should show the end result. We’d expect more than a handful of sacks and pushing past 15 TFL. The sky really is the limit for him.

THE JUMP HE NEEDS FROM SPRING TO FALL CAMP

Taylor missed spring practice coming off injury, so in fall camp he just has to show his continued understanding of a new defense and better consistency. When Taylor is on his game, he’s almost impossible to stop. With his strength, size and burst there’s no team that will be able to try and slow him down with one-on-one blocking. So if Taylor can put it all together and go every rep like it’s his last then this has the potential to be an All-American season. With Miami’s DT spot a question mark, the team can’t afford to have an inconsistent Taylor.

THE QUOTE

“A former five-star recruit, Taylor flashed during the 2022 season at Miami. Go watch his tape against Virginia to see what he can do — Taylor had 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss in that one. Seattle brought in Derick Hall on Day 2 this year, but it didn’t fix the interior, and GM John Schneider will likely keep building up that defensive line. At 6-foot-3 and 305 pounds, Taylor can help. He has 10 or more tackles for loss in each of his two seasons with the Hurricanes.” –ESPN analyst Todd McShay, predicting Taylor going No. 14 in the first round of next year’s NFL Draft to the Seattle Seahawks

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