Michael Taaffe, Anthony Hill named AP All-Americans

Michael Taaffe and Anthony Hill were named Associated Press All-Americans on Monday, the AP announced. Hill was named a second-team All-American at linebacker while Taaffe was placed on the third-team at safety.

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It is the second time in Hill’s career that he has been named a second-team All-American by the AP, joining his 2024 campaign. During the 2025 season, Hill logged 69 tackles with 7.0 TFL, 4.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two interceptions, and one pass breakup. Hill recently declared for the NFL Draft and will not be participating in the upcoming Citrus Bowl. He ends his Texas career with 249 tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, three interceptions, seven passes defended, eight forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.

Taaffe notched third-team honors after he was an AP second-team All-American in 2024. In 2025, Taaffe logged 70 tackles with 1.0 sack, two interceptions, and one pass breakup. He recently won the Wuerffel Trophy and was a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is given annually to the top player that started his career as a walk-on. Taaffe finishes his career with 222 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks, seven interceptions, 21 passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick. He declared for the NFL Draft on Monday, and is not expected to participate in the bowl game.

Both Taaffe and Hill recently earned All-SEC honors. Taaffe was named to the first team while Hill made the second team.

First-team offense

Wide receiver —Makai Lemon, Southern California, junior, 5-11, 195, Los Angeles.
Wide receiver — Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State, sophomore, 6-3, 223, Miami Gardens, Florida.
Wide receiver — Skylar Bell, UConn, senior, 6-0, 185, New York, N.Y.
Tackle — Francis Mauigoa, Miami, junior, 6-6, 335,Ili’ili, American Samoa.
Tackle — Spencer Fano, Utah, junior, 6-6, 308, Spanish Fork, Utah.
Guard — Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon, senior, 6-5, 318, Denver.
Guard — Beau Stephens, Iowa, senior, 6-5, 315, Blue Springs, Missouri.
Center — Logan Jones, Iowa, graduate, 6-3, 202, Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Tight end — Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt, graduate, 6-4, 235, Denton, Texas.
Quarterback — Fernando Mendoza, Indiana, junior, 6-5, 225, Miami.
Running back — Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame, junior, 6-0, 214, St. Louis.
Running back — Ahmad Hardy, Missouri, sophomore, 5-10, 210, Oma, Mississippi.
Kicker — Kansei Matsuzawa, Hawaii, senior, 6-2, 200, Tokyo.
All-purpose — KC Concepcion, Texas A&M, junior, 5-11, 190, Charlotte, North Carolina.

First-team defense

Edge rusher — David Bailey, Texas Tech, senior, 6-3, 250, Irvine, California.
Edge rusher — Cashius Howell, Texas A&M, senior, 6-2, 248, Kansas City, Missouri.
Interior lineman — Kayden McDonald, Ohio State, junior, 6-3, 326, Suwanee, Georgia.
Interior lineman — Landon Robinson, Navy, senior, 6-0, 287, Fairlawn, Ohio.
Linebacker — Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech, senior, 6-1, 235, Wichita Falls, Texas.
Linebacker — Arvell Reese, Ohio State, junior, 6-4, 243, Cleveland.
Linebacker — CJ Allen, Georgia, junior, 6-1, 235, Barnesville, Georgia.
Cornerback — Leonard Moore, Notre Dame, sophomore, 6-2, 195, Round Rock, Texas.
Cornerback — Mansoor Delane, LSU, senior, 6-0, 190, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Safety — Caleb Downs, Ohio State, junior, 6-0, 205, Hoschton, Georgia.
Safety — Bishop Fitzgerald, Southern California, senior, 5-11, 205, Woodbridge, Virginia.
Defensive back — Jakari Foster, Louisiana Tech, senior, 6-0, 211, Piedmont, Alabama.
Punter — Cole Maynard, Western Kentucky, senior, 6-1, 180, Mooresville, North Carolina.

Second-team offense

Wide receiver — Carnell Tate, Ohio State, junior, 6-3, 195, Chicago.
Wide receiver — Malachi Toney, Miami, freshman, 5-11, 188, Liberty City, Florida.
Wide receiver — Danny Scudero, San Jose State, sophomore, 5-9, 174, San Jose, California.
Tackle — Kadyn Proctor, Alabama, junior, 6-7, 366, Des Moines, Iowa.
Tackle — Carter Smith, Indiana, junior, 6-5, 313, Powell, Ohio.
Guard — Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State, junior, 6-4, 323, Graham, Washington.
Guard — Ar’maj Reed-Adams, Texas A&M, graduate, 6-5, 325, Dallas.
Center – Jake Slaughter, Florida, senior, 6-4, 303, Sparr, Florida.
Tight end — Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon, junior, 6-3, 245, Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Quarterback — Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt, graduate, 6-0, 207, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Running back — Emmett Johnson, Nebraska, junior, 5-11, 200, Minneapolis.
Running back — Kewan Lacy, Mississippi, sophomore, 5-11, 210, Dallas.
Kicker — Tate Sandell, Oklahoma, junior, 5-9, 182, Port Neches, Texas.
All-purpose — Wayne Knight, James Madison, junior, 5-7, 190, Smyrna, Delaware.

Second-team defense

Edge rusher — Rueben Bain Jr., Miami, junior, 6-3, 270, Miami.
Edge rusher — John Henry Daley, Utah, sophomore, 6-4, 255, Alpine, Utah.
Interior lineman — A.J. Holmes Jr., Texas Tech, junior, 6-3, 300, Houston.
Interior lineman — Peter Woods, Clemson, junior, 6-3, 310, Alabaster, Alabama.
Linebacker — Sonny Syles, Ohio State, senior, 6-5, 243, Pickerington, Ohio
Linebacker — Anthony Hill Jr., Texas, junior, 6-3, 238, Denton, Texas.
Linebacker — Red Murdock, Buffalo, graduate, 6-1, 240, Petersburg, Virginia.
Cornerback — D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana, junior, 5-9, 173, Miami
Cornerback — Chris Johnson, San Diego State, senior, 6-0, 195, Eastvale, California.
Safety — Dillon Thieneman, Oregon, junior, 6-0, 205, Westfield, Indiana.
Safety — Louis Moore, Indiana, senior, 5-11, 200, Mesquite, Texas.
Defensive back — Hezekiah Masses, California, senior, 6-1, 185, Deerfield Beach, Florida.
Punter — Brett Thorson, Georgia, senior, 6-2, 235, Melbourne, Australia.

Third-team offense

Wide receiver — Eric McAlister, TCU, senior, 6-3, 205, Azie, Texas.
Wide receiver — Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee, junior, 6-5, 200, Midland, Texas.
Wide receiver — Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, junior, 6-2, 200, Allen, Texas.
Tackle — Keagen Trost, Missouri, graduate, 6-4, 316, Kankakee, Illinois.
Tackle — Brian Parker II, Duke, junior, 6-5, 305, Cincinnati.
Guard — Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech, senior, 6-4, 330, Royston, Georgia.
Guard — Evan Tengesdahl, Cincinnati, sophomore, 6-3, 320, Dayton, Ohio.
Center — Iapani Laloulu, Oregon, junior, 6-2, 329, Honolulu.
Tight end — Michael Trigg, Baylor, senior, 6-4, 240, Tampa, Florida.
Quarterback — Julian Sayin, Ohio State, redshirt freshman, 6-1, 208, Carlsbad, California.
Running back — Cam Cook, Jacksonville State, junior, 5-11, 200, Round Rock, Texas.
Running back — Kaytron Allen, Penn State, senior, 5-11, 219, Norfolk, Virginia.
Kicker — Aidan Birr, Georgia Tech, junior, 6-1, 205, Kennedale, Texas.
All-purpose — Jadarian Price, Notre Dame, junior, 5-11, 210, Denison, Texas.

Third-team defense

Edge rusher — Caden Curry, Ohio State, senior, 6-3, 260, Greenwood, Indiana.
Edge rusher — Nadame Tucker, Western Michigan, senior, 6-3, 250, New York.
Interior lineman — Tyrique Tucker, Indiana, junior, 6-0, 302, Norfolk, Virginia.
Interior lineman — Lee Hunter, Texas Tech, senior, 6-4, 330, Mobile, Alabama.
Linebacker — Aiden Fisher, Indiana, senior, 6-1, 231, Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Linebacker — Caden Fordham, North Carolina State, graduate, 6-1, 230, Ponte Vedra, Florida.
Linebacker — Owen Long, Colorado State, sophomore, 6-2, 230, Whittier, California.
Cornerback — Avieon Terrell, Clemson, junior, 5-11, 180, Atlanta.
Cornerback — Treydan Stukes, Arizona, senior, 6-2, 200, Litchfield Park, Arizona.
Safety — Michael Taaffe, Texas, senior, 6-0, 189, Austin, Texas.
Safety — Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo, senior, 6-2, 202, Tampa, Florida.
Defensive back — Bray Hubbard, Alabama, junior, 6-2, 213, Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
Punter — Ryan Eckley, Michigan State, junior, 6-2, 207, Lithia, Florida.