Michael Taaffe
{{short description|American football player (born 2003)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox college football player
|name=Michael Taaffe
|school=Texas Longhorns
|currentnumber=16
|currentposition=Safety
|class={{redshirt}} Senior
|major=Physical Culture and Sports
|birth_date={{birth date and age|2003|2|18}}
|birth_place=
|bowlgames=
|heightft=6
|heightin=0
|weight_lb=195
|highlights=
- Second-team All-American (2024)
|highschool=Westlake (Austin, Texas)
|pastschools=
- Texas (2021–present)
|espn=4880346}}
Michael Joseph Taaffe (born February 18, 2003) is an American football safety for the Texas Longhorns.
High School career
Taaffe attended Westlake High School in Austin, Texas. He played cornerback and wide receiver in high school. As a senior, Taaffe recorded 60 tackles and five interceptions while catching 18 passes for 297 yards and three touchdown receptions.{{cite web|url=https://www.maxpreps.com/tx/austin/westlake-chaparrals/athletes/michael-taaffe/football/stats/?careerid=5320k2sufofvf|title=Michael Taaffe|publisher=Max Preps}} Taaffe's most notable high school highlight is intercepting Carroll Senior High School and future Texas Quarterback Quinn Ewers twice in their state championship game. Also, Taaffe helped lead Westlake to back-to-back state championship titles.{{cite web|url=https://www.kvue.com/article/sports/high-school/hs-football/westlake-texas-high-school-football-state-championship-recap/269-2ea3b2ea-b46c-4426-9b04-c805d5e581d4|title=Westlake secures third straight state championship after topping Denton Guyer|date=December 19, 2021 |publisher=KVUE}} On November 5, 2020, Taaffe committed to Rice.{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/player/michael-taaffe-46110323/|title=Michael Taaffe|publisher=247Sports}} However, Taaffe was offered a walk-on spot at Texas and decided to accept the Longhorns offer.
College career
Taaffe saw no playing time during his freshman year. However, when Taaffe was a redshirt freshman, he played in 13 games totaling 26 combined tackles. Prior to the Alamo Bowl, Taaffe was granted a full scholarship by Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian on December 18, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.burntorangenation.com/2023/10/26/23930934/michael-taaffe-texas-longhorns-walk-on-arch-manning|title=The remarkable rise of Texas former walk-on S Michael Taaffe|publisher=Burnt Orange Nation|date=26 October 2023}} During Taaffe's sophomore season, he amassed a total of 48 tackles and 3 interceptions.{{cite web|url=https://texaslonghorns.com/sports/football/roster/michael-taaffe/13642|title=Michael Taaffe|publisher=Texas Longhorns}} This led to Taaffe earning honorable mention All-Big 12 and a Burlsworth Trophy nominee.{{cite web|url=https://big12sports.com/documents/2023/11/28//2023_All_Big_12_Release.pdf|title=2023 All-Big 12 Football Awards Announced|publisher=Big 12 Sports|date=28 November 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://texaslonghorns.com/news/2023/10/31/no-7-6-footballs-taaffe-nominated-for-burlsworth-trophy.aspx|title=No. 7/6 Football's Taaffe nominated for Burlsworth Trophy|publisher=Texas Longhorns|date=31 October 2023}} During Taaffe's junior season, he earned SEC co-defensive player of the week and Burlsworth Trophy walk-on of the week honors.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/texas/texas-longhorns-michael-taaffe-named-sec-co-defensive-player-of-the-week-01jba1n3ep64|title=Texas Longhorns DB Michael Taaffe Named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week|date=October 28, 2024 |publisher=Sports Illustrated}}{{cite web|url=https://www.on3.com/teams/texas-longhorns/news/michael-taaffe-named-burlsworth-trophy-walk-on-of-the-week/|title=Michael Taaffe named Burlsworth Trophy Walk-On of the Week|date=October 29, 2024 |publisher=Inside Texas}} Taaffe also earned second team AP All-American honors.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/2024-ap-all-america-team-travis-hunter-snares-honors-at-three-positions-sec-leads-with-six-first-team-picks/|title=2024 AP All-America Team: Travis Hunter snares honors at three positions, SEC leads with six first-team picks|work=CBS Sports|date=December 16, 2024 }} During the 2024 College Football Playoffs, a high hit by Taaffe led to the Big 12 commissioner to call for consistency in targeting penalty calls.{{cite web |last=AP |date=2 January 2025 |title=Big 12 commissioner calls for 'national standards' for calling targeting after controversial play |website=Associated Press News |url=https://apnews.com/article/big-12-targeting-texas-arizona-state-a5e6aa867b026d70e82e487d36a0736a//}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://texaslonghorns.com/sports/football/roster/michael-taaffe/13642 Texas Longhorns bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taaffe, Michael}}
Category:Players of American football from Austin, Texas
Category:American football safeties