Trio of former Longhorns impresses in their NFL rookie debuts

With the first week of the NFL season nearly in the books, there were plenty of noteworthy performances by some rookies. That includes three former Longhorns: Michael Taaffe, Malik Muhammad II, and Anthony Hill Jr. The talented trio made an impact for their new teams and showed why they are special players. 

After an unforgettable career in the burnt orange, Taaffe was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Against the Raiders, the Texas native showed why by recording four tackles in his first NFL game. He also hauled in his first career interception, which was one of the few bright spots on a forgettable afternoon for the Dolphins. He will look to build on his success next week when Miami takes on the 49ers.