16 days until Texas Football: Michael Taaffe and Arch Manning
Inside Texas is putting a new twist on long-time photographer Will Gallagher’s time-honored countdown to Texas football kickoff. In addition to Will’s great pictures, the Inside Texas staff will go through every player on the roster by jersey number and offer a season outlook on each, from five-star to walk-on.
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We’ll also look back at other greats to wear that day’s number, with special reverence to some of Texas’ best.
Today is 16 days until kickoff. No. 16 for the Longhorns this season will be worn by Michael Taaffe, a sophomore defensive back, and Arch Manning, the highly touted true freshman quarterback.
Michael Taaffe season outlook
Taaffe joined the Longhorns for fall camp in 2021 and played in 13 games in 2022, starting one (Kansas). He totaled 26 tackles (13 solo) with half a tackle for loss and one pass breakup last season.
Taaffe was named to the Academic All-Big 12 Second Team in 2022 and was a member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (fall 2021).
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Michael Taaffe as a recruit
Arch Manning season outlook
Manning is battling Maalik Murphy currently for the backup quarterback position this fall. While a redshirt seems imminent, Manning getting real time snaps in 2023 would likely come after a blowout.
Arch Manning as a recruit
Recent player to wear No. 16: Jermichael Finley
Finley played in 26 games and started 17 of them in his three seasons at Texas. He set a record as a redshirt freshman in 2006 with 31 catches that amassed 371 yards and four TDs. Finley started all 13 games and caught 45 passes for 575 yards and two touchdowns in 2007, his final campaign on the 40 Acres.
Finley was selected in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft by Green Bay and spent six seasons with Packers before suffering a bruised spinal cord that left him temporarily paralyzed and ended the former Longhorn’s NFL career.
All-Americans to wear No. 16
Randall Clay, RB, 1949
Lance Gunn, DB, 1992
