Michael Taaffe wins Wuerffel Trophy, honoring community service

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas senior defensive back Michael Taaffe plays with a big heart both on and off the field.

Taaffe was honored Friday with the 2025 Wuerffel Trophy, an award that recognizes college football players “who use their platforms to serve others and create positive change and who exemplify community service, academic excellence and athletic achievement.”

Along with the award, Taaffe was named the captain of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, a collection of college football players who are champions of community service.

He was a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy and was also named to the SEC Community Service Team.

Taaffe honored the victims of the Camp Mystic floods over the July 4 weekend that killed 27 people in the Texas Hill Country, wearing a tie with the initials of the victims during SEC Media Days, and holding autograph signings and meet-and-greets to raise money for the grieving families.

He also does work for the nonproft group Texas Against Fentanyl and Crime Stoppers of Houston, along with the Texas Department of Transportation’s Sober Rides public service announcement campaign.

He was named to the first-team All-SEC team as a safety, averaging seven tackles per game with two interceptions. One of the picks came late in the fourth quarter against Texas A&M to help seal a 27-17 win over the Aggies in the season finale.

Taaffe is the second Longhorn to win the award, joining defensive lineman Sam Acho, who won in 2010. The award is named after former Florida Gators quarterback Danny Wuerffel and is given out by the Wuerffel Foundation.

Taaffe was also invited to play in the Panini Senior Bowl on Jan. 31 in Mobile, Alabama.

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