In January, Michael Taaffe led the Westlake Chaparrals to their second consecutive football state title. Shortly thereafter, Taaffe committed to join the Texas Longhorns football program as a preferred walk-on.
According to 247Sports, Taaffe held 2 collegiate offers from Brown and Colgate but ultimately decided to stay home and sign with Texas.
Senior Season Statistics (Via: MaxPreps)
- Defense: 60 tackles, 10 passes defensed and 5 interceptions.
- Offense: 18 receptions, 297 receiving yards and 3 receiving touchdowns.
Strengths:
Taaffe’s biggest strength might be his ability to perform in big moments. Last January, Taaffe ended his high school football career with two interceptions in Austin Westlake’s championship game win against Southlake Carroll. However, Taaffe also came away with an interception in Westlake’s state title win over Denton Guyer in 2019. Consequently, I am confident that Taaffe will be able to perform under the bright lights of DKR on a Saturday night.
In addition to Taaffe’s ability to perform in pressure situations, his hands are quite impressive as well. As I previously mentioned, Taaffe has showcased his receiving ability as a defensive back, but he also made an impact at wide receiver during his senior season as well. Furthermore, it seems that Taaffe makes a SportsCenter-worthy catch every time he gets his hands on the football.
What I See:
Last season, Kai Money made a splash for the Longhorns when the team needed help at wide receiver. Likewise, I think that Taaffe has the potential to make a positive impact on the team as a walk-on. Also, it will be interesting to see whether Michael stays at cornerback or eventually moves to the safety position. Either way, I would not be surprised to see Taaffe involved in the action on Saturdays in the fall. Lastly, Taaffe will bring championship experience to the Texas locker room, something that can never be understated.
