Texas Football: 3 standouts from first Friday evening fall practice

Michael Taaffe, S

In terms of leadership and effort, no one stuck out more on the Texas defense on Day 3 of fall practice than the former walk-on junior safety Michael Taaffe. The former Austin Westlake defensive back was vocal throughout practice, helping guide the other safeties and corners in individual and team drills.

https://twitter.com/TexasFootball/status/1604155814754668544

Taaffe was specifically leading two drills for Texas in practice on Friday evening. The first was a turnover drill, where DB coaches Terry Joseph and Blake Gideon broke out the boxing gloves to work on punching out the football. Taaffe was one of the first defensive backs to successfully punch out the ball, and helped some of the younger DBs to get the drill right.

Taaffe was also leading the way for Texas when Gideon had the safeties working on hauling in interceptions from 10 yards away. Eric Henry of Horns247 reported post-practice on Friday (paid content) that Taaffe “was heard being vocal throughout the drill, preaching the importance of hauling in the interceptions.”

It was also reported on Friday that Taaffe was the first in line for every defensive back drill in yesterday’s practice.

All in all, it sounds like Taaffe was the defensive back that was setting the tone for Texas in practice this weekend. His work ethic and leadership are being rewarded so far in practice too, getting multiple days of first-team reps in individual and team drills.