How Safety Michael Taaffe Played Key Role in Texas Longhorns Signing Arch Manning

Safety Michael Taaffe might have been the secret weapon to the Texas Longhorns ultimately winding up with Arch Manning.

The commitment of Arch Manning to the Texas Longhorns in 2022 was perhaps the biggest recruiting win in the history of the program.

However, it was an unlikely hero that played one of the biggest roles in the decision of Manning, a former walk-on and now scholarship safety and Westlake (Austin) product Michael Taaffe.

No, not star running back Bijan Robinson or wide receiver Xavier Worthy. And no, not the starting quarterback Quinn Ewers. 

It was Taaffe who hosted Manning during his visit. And during player availability on Monday, he went into detail about what exactly went on during that visit.

“I tried to give him my two cents of why he should come to Texas," Taaffe said. "He (knew who I was). I was just a freshman walk-on and he just acknowledged that I played at Westlake and had my success there... We just started texting and I kept getting in his ear a little bit, and I think the coaches noticed that, so they put me with him. It was easy because he’s a likable guy. He’s a really awesome guy. It’s fun to be around him.'”

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up before the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium / Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

An Austinite through and through, the 6-0, 187-pound redshirt freshman spent time on offense, defense, and special teams for coach Todd Dodge and the Chaps at Westlake, winning back-to-back state titles in 2020 and 2021.

Taaffe accepted a walk-on spot to Texas for the 2021 season after doing it all during his senior year. He totaled 60 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss, five picks, seven quarterback hurries, and one fumble recovery on defense. He also tallied 18 catches for 297 yards and three touchdowns while returning 19 punts for 365 yards.

He was then awarded a scholarship in December of the 2022 season.

Since then, he has quickly emerged as a key part of the Longhorns, and Manning could be on the verge of doing the same for the offense following the injury to Quinn Ewers.

Manning will have to beat out Maalik Murphy this week for the right to start that journey this weekend against BYU. 

But based on the impression Taaffe got during the visit, Manning is ready to do whatever he can to help to the Longhorns get to where they want to be. 

"He really wants Texas football to be in the national championship conversation," Taaffe said. "(The visit) was a lot of one-on-one talk about, how are we going to get there? Just me and him, how are we going to bring Texas football to where it needs to be and where we’re going right now?”