A key Longhorns defender faces surgery. His return timeline remains uncertain, leaving Texas to adapt its dominant defense and leadership on the field.
Take a deep breath, Longhorn fans. Michael Taaffe is injured.
On Tuesday, Oct. 21, Pete Nakos of On3sports reported that senior safety Michael Taaffe had undergone thumb surgery the day prior, on Oct. 20. While the news comes as a major blow to what’s so far been a dominant defensive season for the Longhorns, there still remains some hope.
According to the report, he is expected to miss some time. And while there is no official statement on the severity of Taaffe’s injury or what his timetable to return could look like, initial reports believe the injury is not season-ending.
In his fifth year at Texas, Taaffe has been one of the biggest pieces of the Longhorns' defense. Through seven games, he’s recorded a team-high 51 tackles with one sack and one interception to go along with it. According to PFF, his grade of 91.1 is tied for best in the country amongst all safeties.
However, his impact goes far beyond the statsheet. As one of the most experienced players on the team, Taaffe has continued to carve out his role as a clear leader both on and off the field. Something he plans to take with him, no matter what happens after college.
"Whatever I want to do, I want to be a leader in life,” Taaffe said. “I want to inspire others. I want to be significant."
So what does Texas do next?
For starters, expect to see defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski utilize Jehlani McDonald in ways he hasn’t before. McDonald’s 38 tackles have him tied for the third most on the team. On top of that, McDonald has shown an ability to get to the backfield with three tackles for loss, two of which occurred in the Horns’ most recent matchup against Kentucky. He’s also collected a pair of interceptions and three pass deflections, proving himself to be a true ballhawk in the secondary.
While it’s unlikely to see him take on a full role in Taaffe’s safety position, freshman Jonah Williams could end up seeing an increase in snap count. While Williams has yet to really make a significant impact on the team–in part due to a hamstring injury he suffered earlier in the season– it’s only a matter of time till the former 5-star recruit and No.1 safety of his class gets his opportunity to shine.
Fans can expect clarification on Taaffe’s injury and Texas’ plans moving forward when head coach Steve Sarkisian speaks during Wednesday’s weekly SEC teleconference.