Key Texas defender ‘doubtful’ to play against Vandy, per ESPN insider
By David Wasson
Published:
Although 20th-ranked Texas received good news that quarterback Arch Manning has been cleared to play at home against No. 9 Vanderbilt on Saturday (Noon ET, ABC), the injury report wasn’t as kind for the Longhorns defense.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on College GameDay that Texas safety Michael Taaffe is doubtful to play with a thumb injury. Taaffe had surgery on a broken thumb Oct. 20 and was listed as doubtful on the game’s final injury report.
“He is the quarterback of their defense, and that is tough going up against Diego Pavia and Co. today,” Thamel said of the senior, who did practice for the Longhorns this week.
Without Taaffe in the lineup against Mississippi State last weekend, Texas allowed 38 points, 445 total yards, and 382 passing yards in an eventual overtime victory. Taaffe has recorded 28 solo tackles and been in on 51 total stops for the Longhorns this season and has also notched a sack and an interception.
For his career, Taaffe has recorded 109 solo tackles, 13 pass deflections, 6 interceptions, 3 sacks and a forced fumble.
If Taaffe indeed misses the game against Vanderbilt, Derek Williams Jr. and Xavier Filsaime will likely pair to replace him as they did in week 9 against Mississippi State.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
