The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 10/10/11 Football’s Taaffe tabbed Burlsworth Trophy semifinalist
11.11.2025 | Football
The senior defensive back is one of 10 semifinalists for the award.
AUSTIN, Texas – No. 10/10/11 Texas Football senior defensive back Michael Taaffe has been named a semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy for the second-consecutive year, the Burlsworth Foundation announced Tuesday afternoon. The Burlsworth Trophy is given annually to the most outstanding football player who began his career as a walk-on and has shown outstanding performance on the field.
One of 10 semifinalists for the award, Taaffe is also a semifinalist for the 2025 Jim Thorpe Award, Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award and the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy. A preseason First-Team All-SEC honoree, Taaffe was placed on preseason watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy. He returned to the UT defense after garnering second-team All-America recognition from the Associated Press in 2024.
The Austin, Texas, native and former walk-on has started in seven games for Texas this season. The fifth-year player has played in 50 games with 33 starts during his time on the Forty Acres. Despite missing UT's last two games at Mississippi State (Oct. 25) and vs. Vanderbilt (Nov. 1) due to injury, Taaffe has compiled the third-most tackles on the team with 51, in addition to an interception and sack. Taaffe totaled nine tackles (two solo) in season opener at No. 3/2 Ohio State on Aug. 30 before logging eight stops (seven solo) in Texas' home opener vs. San Jose State on Sept. 6. In UT's SEC opener at Florida on Oct. 4, Taaffe was credited with seven tackles (two solo) and one interception. He followed up that performance with nine tackles (seven solo), including one sack for a loss of 10 yards in the victory over No. 6/6 Oklahoma on Oct. 11. He registered 10 tackles (five solo) in the overtime win at Kentucky on Oct. 18, including a pair of crucial tackles in overtime. On fourth-and-goal from the Texas 1-yard line, Taaffe assisted on the tackle of Kentucky's running back and kept him out of the endzone to force a turnover on downs.
With Taaffe's help on defense, Texas ranks second in the FBS in rushing defense (78.2 ypg), third in opponent red zone scores per game (1.6), fifth in opponent red zone scoring attempts per game (2.0), fifth in opponent rushing first downs per game (5.1), fifth in sacks per game (3.6), seventh in fourth down conversion percentage defense (0.318), ninth in opponent yards per play (4.4), eighth in opponent points per play (0.233), 11th in opponent offense touchdowns per game (1.9), 11th in scoring defense (16.4), 17th in team tackles for loss (6.9), 22nd in total defense (381.4) and 24th in red zone defense (0.778). Texas' defense has held eight of its last 10 opponents to under 100 rushing yards, dating back to the 2024 season. Through nine games, the Longhorns have gained 15 turnovers, which ranks fourth in the SEC. The Longhorns have now forced a turnover in 21-straight home games, the longest active streak in the FBS.
The selection committee will announce the top three Burlsworth Trophy finalists on Nov. 18. The Burlsworth Trophy Award Show, which will honor the three finalists and announce the 2025 winner, will be held on Dec. 8 at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Ark.
Up next, Taaffe and the Longhorns travel to Athens, Ga., to take on No. 5/5/5 Georgia at 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Nov. 15, at Sanford Stadium. The game will broadcast on ABC with Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe (reporter) and Laura Rutledge (reporter) on the call.
