From walk-on to All-American and Dolphins draft pick, Michael Taaffe reunites with Texas friend Quinn Ewers

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That wasn’t it for Taaffe. His selection by the Dolphins made him one of three Longhorns in Miami’s 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.

“How I did it, I never once told myself I was going to go be an All-American and all these accolades,” Taaffe said. “I just cared about the team. When I got there, I was like, ‘All right, I’m going to make an impact for the University of Texas,’ and that’s what I wanted to do.

“It was never really about myself, and once I got that opportunity, it was like, ‘Wow, look what putting the University of Texas first, putting your team first, putting your teammates first can really get you.’ ”

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.

“I 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,” he said. “It 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.”

That sounds like a future leader. There’s 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, that’ll 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.

“It’s definitely a way different way to lead, going in the NFL and being a rookie, but you’ve got to earn your stripes early,” Taaffe said. “You’ve got to put your head down and not say a word and be humble. Once (it’s) your time to talk, then that’s when you use your voice.

“There can be leaders from the bottom to the top; it’s not always the rah-rah guy. There’s different ways of leading, and I’m going to find out and I can’t wait to learn from the leaders above.”