Trio of former Longhorns impresses in their NFL rookie debuts - Longhorns Wire
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.Β
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.Β
Like Taaffe, Muhammad thrived in the Longhorns secondary. The Chicago Bears then drafted him, and he made a strong first impression in a game full of explosive plays on offense. Against the Panthers, Muhammad recorded three total tackles and two pass deflections. He also added one interception to his resume while making the most of his playing time.Β
Rounding out this list is Anthony Hill Jr., who was a human highlight reel on Sunday afternoon. In the Titans opener against the New York Jets, the Texas native led Tennessee in total tackles with 16. The former Longhorn also recorded two pass deflections and showed why he was one of the top prospects at his position.Β
While the sample size is small, Taaffe, Hill, and Muhammad all showed why they are all important pieces of their new teams. As long as they continue to improve their skills, Sunday should be the start of what could be three very memorable careers for former Longhorns who will always be remembered on the Forty Acres.Β
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