The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Huff named Thorpe Award semifinalist
11.08.2005 | Football
OKLAHOMA CITY -- UT junior safety Michael Huff has been named one of 12 semifinalists for the 2005 Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's top defensive back, the Jim Thorpe Award Screening Committee has announced. The list of honorees will be narrowed down to three finalists on Monday, Nov. 21, 2005.
An honorable mention All-American and first-team All-Big 12 pick in 2004, Huff has recorded 77 tackles, three TFL, 12 PBU, one sack, one INT, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery TD and a blocked FG in 2005.
With the ability to play all four secondary positions, Huff has quarterbacked the Longhorns to a No. 6 national ranking in total defense (279.0 ypg), a No. 6 ranking in pass efficiency defense (95.4 rating), a No. 7 ranking in scoring defense (14.3 ppg) and a No. 8 ranking in pass defense (166.2 ypg).
Huff is also well-known for his ability to score from a defensive position, having produced the most TDs by a defensive player in UT history with five. He has returned four of his seven career INTs for TDs and returned a fumble for a TD earlier this season.
Huff is the fourth UT defender to be named a Thorpe Award semifinalist along with Nathan Vasher (2003), Rod Babers (2002) and Quentin Jammer (2001). Jammer is the only Longhorn to be named a finalist.
The winner of the 2005 Jim Thorpe Award will be announced on the Home Depot College Football Awards Show at 7:00 p.m. (EST) on Thursday, Dec. 8, 2005. The show will air live on ESPN from the Atlantic Dance Hall on The Boardwalk at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
