Texas football junior defensive back Michael Taaffe has been named the Burlsworth Trophy’s National Walk-On of the Week, as announced by the Burlsworth Foundation on Tuesday. This is Taaffe’s first national weekly recognition.
Additionally, on Monday, Taaffe was named the Southeastern Conference’s Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
Taaffe, a former walk-on and now a fourth-year defensive back for the Longhorns, has played in 35 career games with 18 starts. During his tenure at Texas, Taaffe 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.
In a 27-24 road victory against No. 25 Vanderbilt, the Austin, Texas native forced two turnovers, including an interception and a forced fumble, alongside six tackles and a pass breakup. His interception came in the second quarter with Vanderbilt at the Texas 32-yard line; he returned the pick nine yards. Later that quarter, Taaffe’s first career forced fumble ended a Vanderbilt drive at the Texas 43-yard line with one minute to go in the half. Taaffe’s leadership helped limit Vanderbilt to just 269 total yards, including 155 passing and 114 rushing. The Commodores didn’t manage a drive longer than 43 yards until their last one of the game, and two of their three touchdowns followed Texas turnovers inside the 40-yard line.
This season, Taaffe is third on the team in tackles with 39 and tied for second in pass breakups with four. Texas leads the nation in 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).
This week, Taaffe and Texas have a bye before hosting the Florida Gators at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The game will be broadcast on either ABC or ESPN.
