Texas football junior defensive back Michael Taaffe was named the Southeastern Conference’s Co-Defensive Player of the Week, marking his first career conference weekly honor.
Hailing from Austin, Texas, Taaffe made a significant impact in Texas’ 27-24 road victory over No. 25 Vanderbilt. He forced two turnovers, including an interception and a forced fumble, while also recording six tackles and a pass breakup. His interception occurred early in the second quarter when Vanderbilt had advanced to Texas’ 32-yard line. Taaffe intercepted the pass at the 22-yard line and returned it nine yards. His first career forced fumble came later in the second quarter at Texas’ 43-yard line, halting a Vanderbilt drive with one minute left in the half. Taaffe led a Longhorn defense that limited Vanderbilt to just 269 total yards, including 155 passing and 114 rushing. Notably, Vanderbilt did not have a drive longer than 43 yards until their final possession, and two of their three touchdowns resulted from Texas turnovers inside the 40-yard line.
This season, Taaffe ranks third on the team with 39 tackles and is tied for second with four pass breakups. Texas boasts the nation’s top total defense (241.3 yards per game), ranks second in scoring defense (11.5 points per game) and pass efficiency defense (90.77), and is third in passing yards allowed (135.8 yards per game).
A former walk-on, Taaffe is now in his fourth year with the Longhorns and has played in 35 career games, starting 18 of them. Over his career, he has accumulated 113 total tackles (61 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, four interceptions, five pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one blocked punt.
