Former Longhorns legend Michael Taaffe is already making noise in Miami, and the early returns have put him in rare company.
Through seven games, the Austin native has picked off two passes, and that makes him the first Miami Dolphins player since Patrick Surtain in 1998 to log multiple interceptions in his first six games.
It is a tiny sample, but the name attached to Taaffe’s start carries real weight. Surtain closed his NFL career with 37 interceptions and 538 total tackles, and during his time with the Dolphins he also made three Pro Bowls. Taaffe hopes to reach that level too, and if he gets anywhere close, Miami’s decision to spend a fifth-round pick on him could look like a steal.
None of this should be a shock to anyone who followed Taaffe at Texas. The former walk-on piled up 222 total tackles and seven interceptions in his Longhorn career, while also adding 21 pass deflections and becoming a major part of the defense.
His résumé went beyond the stat sheet, too. Taaffe collected multiple SEC honors and was a semifinalist for the 2024 Burlsworth Trophy. He also landed on 2025 preseason watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award, and Lott IMPACT Trophy, which helps explain why Miami jumped at the chance to bring him into the secondary.
And with the season still unfolding, Taaffe has time to keep building his case for a bigger role next year and show he can be a foundational piece for the Dolphins moving forward.
In Other News...
Texas Pass Rush Just Took Another Hit Before Mississippi State
Texas edge rotation took another hit heading into its meeting with Mississippi State, with Colin Simmons downgraded to doubtful because of an ankle sprain and Richard Wesley ruled out. The Longhorns have leaned on that group to keep the front seven disruptive, so the timing is less than ideal as they try to stack another clean defensive performance.
There is some better news elsewhere on the availability front, with running back Hollywood Smothers and wide receiver Cam Coleman both off the injury list and expected to play. Mississippi State, meanwhile, is dealing with its own absences, including starting quarterback Kamario Taylor and wide receiver Ayden Williams, which adds another layer to a game that already looked like it could hinge on which sidelined players matter most. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Just Found An Offensive Spark Now Comes The Hard Part
Texas found a much-needed jolt on offense against Ole Miss, and the biggest reason was a running game that looked more alive even without some key backs available. Raleek Brown and Michael Terry III helped carry the load, giving the Longhorns balance and a couple of finishing touches on the ground that had been missing as the season has worn on.
Now comes the tougher test: proving it was more than a one-game lift. Mississippi State brings a run defense that has been difficult to move, so Texas will have to show it can keep generating push and production when the box tightens and the margin for error shrinks. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Opens With One Big Question About Sean Miller's New Team
The Longhorns get their first real answer tonight when Sean Millers revamped roster opens the regular season against Chicago State, a team that arrives with some continuity of its own. Texas is coming off a Sweet 16 run and spent the offseason reshaping the roster around a strong recruiting class, including five-star Marcus Spears Jr., while also bringing back returning starter Matas Vokietaitis and adding a mix of transfers and freshmen that should define the early part of the season.
For Texas, the opener is less about the opponent than about how quickly all those new pieces start to fit together in a live setting. Chicago State, under Landon Bussie, brings back Malek Robinson and adds Foday Sheriff, so the Cougars wont be just a formality in the seasons first game. Still, the bigger storyline for the Longhorns is whether Millers new group looks ready to turn talent into something sharper and more organized right away. [Read more 🡒]