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Michael Taaffe, a Miami Dolphins draft pick, reunites with Texas friend Quinn Ewers after a standout high school career where he intercepted Ewers twice in a state championship game. Taaffe transitioned from walk-on to second-team All-American during his time at Texas.
Before Miami Dolphins draft pick Michael Taaffe and quarterback Quinn Ewers were teammates and close friends at Texas, Taaffe had the best day of his high school football career against Ewers.
Taaffe, who was on the way to play for Texas as a walk-on safety, intercepted Ewers, the No. 1 recruit in the nation, twice in a state championship game, as Taaffeâs Southlake High team defeated Ewersâ Westlake Carroll squad for Texasâ Class 6A title in 2020.
One of them was a highlight-reel, one-handed snag, where Taaffe sat underneath a route in zone coverage and elevated to pull it down with his right hand high above him.
âAt the time, that was probably the coolest moment in my life because it was a âSportsCenterâ Top 10, and No. 2 was Aaron Rodgers,â Taaffe said. âNo. 1 was little Michael Taaffe, walk-on at University of Texas. So pretty cool to know that you jumped over âA-Rodâ on âSportsCenterâ Top 10.â
The âat the timeâ does a lot in Taaffeâs sentence. Heâs established several more âcoolest momentsâ in his time with the Longhorns, with Ewers alongside him for most of them. Included among them, earning his scholarship at the end of his redshirt freshman season in 2022 and then later being a second-team All-American as a junior in 2024 and first-team All-SEC selection last season.
Maybe the newest coolest moment of his life occurred last Saturday, when Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley came calling to let him know he was Miamiâs selection with the 158th pick, a fifth-round choice.
âWithin two minutes of getting announced, Quinn FaceTimed me, and I got to talk to him,â Taaffe said. âHe was just so fired up. His girlfriend and my girlfriend are really close also, so I think sheâs just as happy.
âWe played each other in the state championship game my senior year against each other, and then we came together at Texas to play together, and now I guess weâre going to be teammates again. Man, itâs so awesome. Who would have thought when we went out there as captains in the state championship game that it would turn into teammates in the NFL in Miami? So, pretty awesome.â
Michael Taaffe earned a scholarship, became a second-team All-American in 2024, and was a first-team All-SEC selection last season.
Taaffe intercepted Ewers twice in a state championship game, including a highlight-reel one-handed catch.
Taaffe started as a walk-on safety at Texas, earned a scholarship, and was later drafted by the Miami Dolphins.
Taaffe's interceptions against Ewers marked a pivotal moment in his high school career, showcasing his talent and leading to his future success.
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That wasnât it for Taaffe. His selection by the Dolphins made him one of three Longhorns in Miamiâs 2026 class, and that was a year after the team drafted Ewers in the seventh round. Before Taaffe, it was edge rusher and linebacker Trey Moore in the fourth round. After them, offensive guard DJ Campbell was selected in the sixth round.
Taaffe had 222 tackles, seven interceptions, 21 pass breakups and three sacks over three seasons as a starter and another as a rotational defender. All his college accolades and his draft position, still undersized as a 6-foot, 190-pound safety, are even more remarkable considering he started that journey walking on to the team.
âHow I did it, I never once told myself I was going to go be an All-American and all these accolades,â Taaffe said. âI just cared about the team. When I got there, I was like, âAll right, Iâm going to make an impact for the University of Texas,â and thatâs what I wanted to do.
âIt was never really about myself, and once I got that opportunity, it was like, âWow, look what putting the University of Texas first, putting your team first, putting your teammates first can really get you.â â
Putting the team first showed results. Texas went from 5-7 when Taaffe and the core he was a part of were freshmen, they then reeled off three consecutive 10-win seasons, a conference championship game and two College Football Playoff semifinal appearances.
âI was proud of what we were able to do at Texas, but it all started off the field with the ability to be a leader in there and what culture we brought,â he said. âIt started with what nobody could see on the field. It started inside those four walls in the locker room and the brotherhood that we made.â
That sounds like a future leader. Thereâs an evident character Sullivan and Hafley are looking for with many of their picks, similar to what linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, a second-round pick, was for Texas Tech.
If it takes time for them to establish their voice, thatâll be fine. The Dolphins have voices like linebacker Jordyn Brooks, defensive tackle Zach Sieler, center Aaron Brewer and left tackle Patrick Paul as the youth comes into its own.
âItâs definitely a way different way to lead, going in the NFL and being a rookie, but youâve got to earn your stripes early,â Taaffe said. âYouâve got to put your head down and not say a word and be humble. Once (itâs) your time to talk, then thatâs when you use your voice.
âThere can be leaders from the bottom to the top; itâs not always the rah-rah guy. Thereâs different ways of leading, and Iâm going to find out and I canât wait to learn from the leaders above.â