Early years

Tapp attended Deep Creek High School in Chesapeake, Virginia where he lettered in football, basketball, and track and field. His senior year, Tapp set a school record with 15 sacks and made 89 tackles and was named Second-team All-State. In all he recorded 22 career sacks while helping Deep Creek to a 34-4 record during his three varsity seasons. He was one of just three juniors to start on offense and defense for Deep Creek in 2000 when he played in all 14 games and posted eight quarterback sacks and earned First-team All-District.

College career

Tapp played as a true freshman in 2002 at Virginia Tech, mostly on special teams. Against Virginia, he returned a punt blocked by Justin Hamilton for a touchdown and for Tapp's first collegiate score. On the season he recorded nine solo tackles and 12 assists, three quarterback hurries and a pass broken up. Tapp set a position record for defensive ends with a 660-pound back squat during the spring. He also had a 415-pound bench press and a 340-pound push jerk, a 530-pound back squat, a 32½-inch vertical jump and a 4.71 time in the forty yard dash. In 2003 he compiled 58 total tackles—nine tackles for loss, including three sacks and 17 quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. In 2004, Tapp won the starting job, taking over for Nathaniel Adibi as the boundary defensive end and started all 13 games, registered 60 tackles were 16.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks and had 23 quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, a pass break up, an interception and a blocked kick as was named First-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference. In 2005 as a senior he started all thirteen games make 48 tackles (14.5 for losses) and 10 sacks and as First-team All-ACC again.

Professional career

Pre-draft

Pre-draft measurables

Ht	Wt	40-yd dash	10-yd split	20-yd split	20-ss	3-cone	Vert	Broad	BP	Wonderlic
6 ft 1½ in	270 lb	4.80 s	1.66 s	2.85 s	4.48 s	7.32 s	33 in	9 ft 1 in	27 reps	22

Seattle Seahawks

Tapp was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft. As a rookie, Tapp was a special teamer and part of the Seahawks' DE rotation. He recorded 33 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble, one interception, and one defensive touchdown. In 2007, Tapp saw a lot more playing time, as the Seahawks' former starting left end Grant Wistrom was cut from the team, and the right end Bryce Fisher was traded to the Titans. As a result he started all 16 games for the Seahawks with new arrival Patrick Kerney as the other DE. In 2007, Tapp made 49 tackles, seven sacks and one interception.

On October 21, 2007, and Week 7 of the 2007 regular season, Tapp had four sacks and forced a fumble against the St. Louis Rams, a personal best. Two weeks after, Tapp had an interception against Cleveland Browns' quarterback Derek Anderson.

Philadelphia Eagles

On March 16, 2010, the Seahawks traded Tapp to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for Chris Clemons and a fourth-round draft pick in 2010. Tapp was signed by the Eagles to a three-year contract after passing his physical on March 18.

Washington Redskins

On March 28, 2013, Tapp signed a one-year deal with the Washington Redskins.

Detroit Lions

On March 13, 2014, Tapp signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions. Tapp was released on August 30, 2014, from the Lions. On March 2, 2015, the Lions re-signed Tapp to a one-year contract. Tapp was named in 2015 the Detroit Lions-Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association-Pro Football Writers Association (Detroit Chapter) Media-Friendly Good Guy Award winner.

Personal

Tapp has been long-time friends with Redskin cornerback DeAngelo Hall since childhood, the two having gone to same school from elementary school throughout college.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]