SAN DIEGO -- Fast and physical have been two buzz words at Chargers Park this offseason.

San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator John Pagano has emphasized the importance of finding players who compete with that mentality

A diamond in the rough for the Chargers was finding University of Arkansas defensive tackle Darius Philon in the sixth round of this year's draft. The Chargers badly need interior pass-rushers up front, and Philon could push for playing time once training camp begins at the end of July.

The Chargers sought a one-gap penetrator in the draft, and Darius Philon appears to fit the bill. AP Photo/David J. Phillip

"He's big and strong," John Pagano said. "You can see his size once he's gotten here. He's doing an excellent job in the classroom right now. He was a very active player that we saw on tape, somebody that could do different things inside.

"The one thing that stood out the most, and that I loved, is he plays with great effort. And you see that on tape. Any time you can add a guy that plays with unbelievable effort, good things always happen."

Philon has dealt with and overcome obstacles in his life. An all-state performer out of Vigor High in Mobile, Alabama, Philon committed to stay in his home state and play for the Crimson Tide. But things didn't work out as planned. Rather than sit out as a grayshirt at Alabama, Philon chose to attend Arkansas.

Philon entered the draft early after his redshirt sophomore season at Arkansas. He was projected to go as high as the third round, but fell to the sixth round.

"I know I have to face obstacles all through my life, coming out of high school and then now going to the pros," Philon said. "It's an obstacle that I have to overcome. I know once I get on the field, everything will be pushed behind me. So I'm just focused on what I have to focus on now."

The Chargers sought a one-gap penetrator in the draft that matched the skill set of designated inside pass-rusher Ricardo Mathews. And Philon appears to fit the bill. His final season at Arkansas, Philon totaled 4.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss.

At 6-1 and 300 pounds, Philon said he plays with the intensity level and effort of old-school defensive NFL players such as Lawrence Taylor and Ray Lewis.

But Philon also understands the importance of quickly learning San Diego's defensive concepts so he can play fast.

"That's very important to me," he said. "Once I learn the schemes and learn what I have to do responsibility-wise, I can go out there and play fast with no mistakes.

"It's been a blessing to work with [defensive line] coach [Don] Johnson. He's been in the game for a very long time. His knowledge is basically helping to increase my knowledge, and get me to where I need to be on the field."

Philon, 21, can look to another player selected at No. 192 in the draft 25 years ago as motivation -- Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe. An oversized receiver out of Division II Savannah State, Sharpe developed into one of the best tight ends to ever play the game.

"I put it to you like this -- if you're a football player, you're a football player no matter where you get picked," Philon said. "It just makes you grind harder because you know you could have been at the top.

"But at same time, that makes you work and show everybody that you're the type of guy that will put your best effort in everything that you're doing. And you love the game just as much as the guys that were picked up top."