The Miami Dolphins are loading up on Texas Longhorns. Miami has taken All-American Texas Longhorns safety Michael Taaffe with the 158th overall pick in the 5th round of the 2026 NFL Draft. The Dolphins also took Texas EDGE Trey Moore in the 4th round. Both UT defenders join former Texas QB Quinn Ewers in South Florida.
Taaffe, 23, was a zero-star recruit out of Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, who originally committed to Rice, but he decided to accept a walk-on offer at Texas for the 2021 season. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian later awarded Taaffe a scholarship when it was clear he would be the Longhorns starting safety.
The Austin native appeared in 53 games over the last four years and recorded 222 tackles, 14 passes defensed, seven interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He received All-SEC honors once (2025) and All-American honors twice (second-team in 2024 and first-team in 2025).
Taaffe won the 2025 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy, which celebrates student athletes who use their platforms to serve others and create positive change and who exemplify community service, academic excellence, and athletic achievement. The Longhorns star has recorded PSAs for SoberRides.org from the Texas Department of Transportation. Over the years, Taaffe took part in various service activities and youth speaking events.
One of Taaffe’s best friends is Ewers. The two, along with Moore, are creating quite a Texas contingent in South Beach.
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This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Miami loading up on Longhorns, Dolphins take Michael Taaffe in Draft
Reporting by Trey Luerssen, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
