There was no doubt that Michael Taaffe would not be ready for the season opener against Colorado State, but on Thursday the University of Texas free safety confirmed it.
After wearing a green no-contact jersey and a large cast on his right arm and hand at the start of fall camp, Taaffe indicated Thursday during a Zoom call with reporters that he would no longer wear the green jersey.
Taaffe is still wearing the cast, but what matters is that he lost the green no-contact jersey, which was an indication that he will be fit to play against the Rams on August 31.
“I’m fully here now and ready to go,” Taaffe said. “I’ve played, I’ve hit, I’ve tackled, I’ve caught, so I’m ready to go.”
“I don’t know how far along the process (of coming off the cast) is at the start of the season, but I know I’m all in. I’m not going to let anything stop me. I believe I’m a real ball hunter, so it doesn’t matter what I have in my hand. If I see the ball in the air, I’m going to go get it.”
Last season, Taaffe played in all 14 games, including nine starts at free safety, en route to being an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection. He finished 2023 with 48 total tackles, including 28 solo, 2.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, two pass breakups and a blocked punt. Taaffe was nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, an award given annually to the best FBS player who began his career as a walk-on.
Taaffe will again play a role in head coach Steve Sarkisian’s plans for the free safety position, but as fall camp draws to a close, who will start at the position – Taaffe or Clemson transfer Andrew Mukuba – is one of the critical roster decisions that still need to be made.
Mukuba, an Austin native who played at LBJ Early College High School, committed to the Longhorns on Dec. 18 as the highest-rated available safety in the NCAA Transfer Portal, according to 247Sports, after collecting 149 tackles, including 4.5 for loss, one sack, 20 pass defenses, two fumble recoveries and one interception in 35 games. Mukuba started 31 of the 35 games he played for the Tigers.
The Longhorns will play a second and final practice game on Saturday at DKR Memorial Stadium before starting game preparation.
