Michael Huff

Michael Wayne Huff, II (born March 6, 1983) is an American football safety for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Texas, and was recognized as an All-American. He was the Oakland Raiders' first-round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.

Early years
Huff was born Irving, Texas. He attended Nimitz High School in Irving, and was a three-year letterman in football and a four-year letterman in track. In football, he played wide receiver, cornerback, and safety, contributed in the playoffs his freshmen and junior years. In track, he placed seventh at the USATF Junior Nationals and ran a personal best of 10.46 seconds on the 100 meter dash. His football jersey No. 23 was retired by Nimitz High School.

College career
Huff attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he played for coach Mack Brown's Texas Longhorns football team from 2002 to 2005. He was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American in 2005 and won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back. In 2002, he earned a third-team Freshman All-American selection from the Sporting News. He had four career interceptions returned for touchdowns, a school record. In the Rose Bowl game against USC, Huff recovered a fumbled lateral from Reggie Bush, a play that many credit with changing the momentum of the game and helping the 2005 Texas Longhorn football team win the NCAA National Championship. He also was the key defender who prevented USC running back LenDale White from gaining a first down on a crucial fourth-down-and-two with USC leading late in the 4th quarter. Texas's Vince Young then marched down the field and scored the touchdown that secured the Longhorn victory.

2006 season
Michael Huff was selected in the 1st round (7th overall) by the Oakland Raiders in the 2006 NFL Draft. After immediately being named the starter at strong safety in his rookie year, he recorded 78 tackles. On October 22, 2006, in a game against the Arizona Cardinals, Huff recorded 4 solo tackles and his first safety. He started all 16 games in his rookie season.

2007 season
His first forced fumble came in his second year in a match-up against the Houston Texans on November 11, 2007. His first interception came in a game against rivalry team Kansas City Chiefs, which set up kicker Sebastian Janikowski for the field goal, which lead to a victory 20-17. Huff ended the game with an impressive performance, adding in 9 total tackles (7 solo, 2 assists). The following week, against another rivalry team, the Denver Broncos, Huff sacked Broncos Quarterback Jay Cutler. Huff finished his 2007 season with 85 tackles, 1 forced fumble and 1 interception.

Huff was moved to free safety after the acquisition of Gibril Wilson.

2008 season
After recording just 12 tackles through the first 5 games of the 2008 season, Michael Huff was benched from his free safety position in favor of Hiram Eugene.

2009 season
At the start of the 2009 season, Oakland had Hiram Eugene and Huff splitting snaps. Huff displayed excellent ball skills in the first two weeks, intercepting 3 passes. Huff finished the season with 59 tackles, half a sack and 3 interceptions, playing next to strong safety Tyvon Branch.

2010 season
Huff opened the 2010 season as the Raiders starting free safety, still playing next to Tyvon Branch. The 2010 season would be the Raiders best season at 8-8 since losing the Super Bowl to Tampa Bay in the 2002 NFL season. For the second straight year, Huff finished with 3 interceptions, along with career highs in almost every defensive category on his way to his first All-Pro section, one of 8 safeties selected as a 2nd team All-Pro. Huff finished the season with 94 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 3 interceptions.

2011 season
On opening day of the 2011 NFL season, he was still the starting free safety playing next to Tyvon Branch in a win over the Denver Broncos.

On October 9, 2011 against the Houston Texans, Huff intercepted his first pass of the year in the endzone with no time remaining to ensure victory for the Raiders.

2012 season
Huff once again started the 2012 season at free safety for the Raiders. However, injuries to starting cornerbacks Ron Bartell and Shawntae Spencer forced the team to move Huff to cornerback before Oakland's week 3 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers.