Tag: Michael Taaffe

Clemson QB Cade Klubnik and Texas safety Michael Taaffe won a high school state title together

Here’s how Clemson and Texas share a unique connection ahead of the CFP first round.

Clemson and Texas won’t be so friendly with each other when the two teams face off in the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff on Saturday.

However, one Tiger and one Longhorn have lots of history together, even going all the way back to elementary school.

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik and Texas safety Michael Taaffe grew up together in Texas and even won two state titles together at Westlake High School in Austin in 2019 and 2020, per the Austin American-Statesman‘s Thomas Jones.

These two childhood friends will now vie with each other for a chance to contend for a national championship, even if they’re just meeting in the first round of a grander tournament.

“I’ve been playing with him since I was third or fourth grade,” Klubnik told the Austin American-Statesman. “Maybe he was on the first football team I was ever on, so (it’s) definitely exciting. I texted him last weekend, ‘This is going to be cool.'”

However, with Klubnik a quarterback and Taaffe a safety, they’ll quite literally be on the opposite side of the field come game day. Their shared experiences will become competitive advantages for each other.

“I know the tendencies that he has,” Taaffe told the Austin American-Statesman. “You know I’ll take those to my advantage, but vice-versa, he knows what type of player I am. He knows I like to take calculated risks. He knows that I’m a student of the game. He’s going to probably show me one thing that they’ve done on film 100 times, and it’s going to be the opposite. I know that, but he probably knows the same thing.”

Read more about Klubnik and Taaffe’s history over at the Austin American-Statesman.

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Five Texas Longhorns earn AP All-Americans honors

That list includes Anthony Hill Jr., Jahdae Barron, Kelvin Banks Jr., Alfred Collins, and Michael Taaffe.

With the 2024 college football regular season in the books, the Longhorns have made headlines as awards have been handed out. On Tuesday, that continued when five players were named All-Americans by the Associated Press. That list includes Anthony Hill Jr., Jahdae Barron, Kelvin Banks Jr., Alfred Collins, and Michael Taaffe.

While all five have been key to the Longhorns’ success, only Barron and Banks earned first-team honors. During his fifth season with the Longhorns, Barron has started all 13 games and leads the conference in interceptions with five. As a senior, he has added 47 tackles to his resume.

On the offensive side of the ball, Banks has been one of the Longhorns’ best players and a model of consistency. The Texas native has started every game this season and helped protect quarterbacks Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. He has also added two SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors to his resume.

Hill, Collins, and Taaffe earned spots on the second team. The talented trio were human highlight reels, making life difficult for offensive coordinators. Hill led the way with a team-high 90 tackles, including six for a loss.

He also got some help from Taaffe, who finished the season with 61 total tackles. The local star was also named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week and the Burlsworth Trophy National Player following the Longhorns win over Vanderbilt earlier this season.

Rounding out the list is Collins, who has taken his game to another level over the past few months. In 13 games, Collins set career highs in tackles with 43 and pass deflections with seven. For the Longhorns, his improved play was a welcome sign.

The Longhorns and this talented group will now focus on making a deep playoff run and building on a memorable 2024 season.

Alfred Collins ranked as top defensive tackle in Week 12 by PFF College

While the Longhorns got contributions from everyone, Alfred Collins stood out and was rewarded for his efforts

In the Longhorns win over Arkansas on Saturday, the defense continued to thrive. The Razorbacks were held to 231 yards of total offense and only recorded five first touchdowns. While the Longhorns got contributions from everyone, Alfred Collins stood out and was rewarded for his efforts.

Following the Longhorns’ victory, Collins earned a 91.6 grade from PFF College, the highest grade for a defensive lineman in Week 12. The talented senior recorded seven tackles, including two for loss. He finished the afternoon tied for second on the team in tackles, trailing only Michael Taaffe. In his best game of the season, Collins was a human highlight reel and hard to keep off the field.

While the Longhorns 2024 campaign is far from over, PFF’s recognition is another example of how good Collins has been this season. He has set career highs in total tackles with 35, solo tackles with 17, and pass deflections with four. If he can continue his recent play, more awards could be on the horizon.

As the Longhorns chase a national championship, Collins should continue to see plenty of snaps. He has proven that he can be an impactful player and is finally receiving national recognition. On a team full of talent, he is starting to stand out.

With Collins playing the best football of his college career, the Longhorns defense has another weapon to rely on.

Texas DB Michael Taaffe reaches career milestone following win over Vanderbilt

It is the first national weekly honor of his career

Longhorns defensive back Michael Taaffe added to his trophy case on Tuesday. The Westlake High School product was named the Burlsworth Trophy Walk-On of the Week. It is the first national weekly honor of his career.

As the Longhorns got back in the win column on Saturday, Taaffe played a key role. The Austin native forced one fumble and added one interception to his resume. He also helped make life difficult for the Commodores with six tackles and a pass breakup.

While Taaffe was a human highlight reel on Saturday, his play was no surprise to the Longhorns. Through eight games, he ranks third on the team in tackles with 39. He is also tied for second on the team in pass breakups with four. Taaffe has taken his game to another level in his fourth season in Texas and helped make the Longhorns’ defense a formidable unit.

Since making his collegiate debut during the 2022 campaign, the talented junior has recorded 113 total tackles and one sack this season. Regardless of the opponent, the former walk-on has been a valuable player who made the most of his opportunities.

On Saturday, Taaffe will get to build on his success when the Longhorns take on the Florida Gators. Tuesday provided a reminder of just how valuable Taaffe is and how far he has come.

Two Longhorns ink NIL deals with Lamborghini dealership in Austin

Two Texas football standouts sign NIL deals with Austin Lamborghini car dealership

NIL has been a part of college athletics for a few years, but it still feels like a lot is changing. Obviously, NIL favors Universities with large alumni networks and strong booster programs, so schools such as the Texas Longhorns and Oregon Ducks have done an outstanding job of adapting to the changing times.

It is no secret that there is a lot of money down on the Forty Acres, so it is cool to see the University invest that money in the athletic program and athletes. For example, earlier this summer the Longhorns had a recruiting weekend where they brought in a bunch of Lamborghini’s sitting outside Darrell K. Royal Stadium for recruits to look at while on campus.

The relationship between Lamborghini and the Longhorns appears as if it will only get better over time with WR Isaiah Bond and DB Michael Taaffe being selected as Lamborghini Austin’s Promotional partners for the 2024 season.

In the case of Taaffe, a former walk-on and fan favorite, it is awesome to see guys like this get a life-changing opportunity that would have never happened before NIL became part of the current college landscape.

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Michael Taaffe discusses Texas’ mindset, culture ahead of Big 12 title game

The mentality in the locker room is what makes this Texas team so strong.

In media availability on Monday, sophomore defensive back Michael Taaffe spoke on what Texas’ mentality should be this week ahead of the Big 12 Championship game. Continue reading “Michael Taaffe discusses Texas’ mindset, culture ahead of Big 12 title game”

Texas Football Recruiting: Longhorns add pair of Austin Westlake PWOs

Texas added two PWOs over the weekend in running back Zane Minors and defensive back Michael Taaffe.

When recruiting at the University of Texas, keeping in-state players home is the golden rule. Having a pipeline through one of the top football programs in the state in your own city helps the cause.

Texas added two preferred walk-ons over the weekend in running back Zane Minors and defensive back Michael Taaffe. Both are products of Austin Westlake, who is fresh off a 6A-DI state championship and the same high school that Sam Ehlinger attended.

Minors will help with depth problems that the Longhorns have at the running back position. He rushed for an average of 8.5 yards per carry, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark on the season. Add on 20 touchdowns and Minors was a significant part of the Chaparels’ state championship winning offense.

Taaffe played defensive back for Austin Westlake, gaining attention after intercepting five-star quarterback Quinn Ewers. Over the course of his senior year, Taaffe had 60 tackles, 7.0 which were for a loss. He had five interceptions and a fumble recovery along with 10 passes defended.

With national signing day on Wednesday, Steve Sarkisian will be looking to add more players to his roster. Landing a pair of PWOs from the back-to-back state champions Austin Westlake is a great pick up for the Longhorns.

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