The Texas secondary continues to command national attention, as junior Malik Muhammad and senior Michael Taaffe have been named to the 2025 Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame and Jim Thorpe Association announced Wednesday. The award honors the nation’s top defensive back, recognizing excellence in performance, athleticism, and character.
This marks the first career appearance on the Thorpe watch list for both Muhammad and Taaffe—two key figures in a Longhorn defense that has become a proving ground for elite DB talent. Just last year, Jahdae Barron brought the Thorpe Trophy back to Austin, joining Michael Huff (2005) and Aaron Ross (2006) as Texas legends to win the award. With three winners, Texas is now tied with LSU and Oklahoma for the most all-time.
Malik Muhammad: Rising Star in the Secondary
Muhammad, a Second-Team All-SEC preseason pick, enters his third season with 30 games under his belt and 18 starts—16 of which came in 2024. The DeSoto native posted 36 tackles (32 solo), eight pass break-ups, and a tackle for loss last season. He delivered clutch performances in the postseason, including a career-high five solo tackles in the CFP First Round vs. Clemson and two pass break-ups in the Peach Bowl win over Arizona State. His eight PBUs ranked third on the team, trailing only Barron and Taaffe.
Michael Taaffe: From Walk-On to Watch List Mainstay
Taaffe, a First-Team All-SEC preseason selection, is no stranger to national recognition. Already on the watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lott IMPACT Trophy, the former walk-on from Austin has become a cornerstone of the Longhorn defense. In 2024, he started all 16 games, finishing second on the team in tackles (78), interceptions (2), and pass break-ups (10). His standout moment came against Vanderbilt, where he became the only Longhorn to record both an interception and a forced fumble in the same game—earning him national and conference honors. He followed that up with a career-high 10 tackles and two PBUs in the CFP Quarterfinal.
Taaffe has played in 43 games with 26 starts and continues to be a model of consistency and leadership in the Texas secondary.
Key Dates to Watch:
- Semifinalists Announced: October 28
- Finalists Revealed: November 25
- Winner Announced: December 12 on The Home Depot College Football Awards (ESPN)
