Safety Michael Taaffe will miss his second straight game with a thumb injury, according to an official SEC availability report issued Saturday morning.
With Taaffe absent last week, the Longhorns allowed a season-high 382 passing yards to Mississippi State quarterback Blake Shapen. Redshirt freshman Xavier Filsaime played the majority of the snaps in Taaffe’s place.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian explained this week that Taaffe’s football intelligence makes him difficult to replace. He’s often capable of solving issues on the field as they arise, allowing the Longhorns to adjust during drives rather than waiting until they reach the sideline.
At the time of his injury, Taaffe was also Texas’ leading tackler.
Vanderbilt ranks 13th in the SEC in passing yards per game with 230.3. The Commodores rely heavily on the nation’s third-most-efficient running game, with quarterback Diego Pavia playing a key role in the ground game, too.