SPORTS

Westlake football players Michael Taaffe, Zane Minors to walk on with Texas

Austin American-Statesman

Michael Taaffe, center, celebrates one of his two interceptions during last month's Class 6A Division I state championship football game between Southlake Carroll and Westlake in Arlington. Taaffe, who was pledged to Rice, will join the Texas football team as a preferred walk-on.

Two key members of Westlake's state-championship football team will stay at home, choosing a preferred walk-on status with Texas instead of other opportunities.

Senior defensive back Michael Taaffe, who earned back-to-back defensive most valuable player honors in a Class 6A title game, has backed off a pledge to Rice to join the Longhorns. The 6-foot, 180-pound cornerback had six tackles and two interceptions as well as six catches for 61 yards in the Chaps' 52-34 win over Southlake Carroll in the Class 6A Division I title game last month. Classmate Zane Minors, a running back previously pledged to Yale, will also join the Longhorns. The 5-10, 180-pound speedster had 1,696 yards from scrimmage and 23 total touchdowns this past season for the Chaps.

Westlake’s Zane Minors runs past Southlake Carroll’s Cinque Williams in the first half during last month's Class 6A Division I state championship football game between Southlake Carroll and Westlake in Arlington. Minors, who was pledged to Yale, will join the Texas football team as a preferred walk-on.

In other football news, senior defensive lineman Hayden Bray announced that we will join Oklahoma as a preferred walk-on, and junior offensive tackle Connor Robertson has received a scholarship offer from Texas.