Longhorn Hall of Honor: Michael Huff

When it comes to Texas Football, there are standout seasons that generations of fans will forever hold dear to their hearts. To say that the perfect season in 2005, capped off by a national championship victory against USC, is merely one of them is an understatement.

And it provides a personal memory that 2015 Hall of Honor inductee Michael Huff will never forget.

As the Defensive MVP of the title game against the Trojans, Huff completed a tremendous season and helped UT secure its first national title in 35 years. But the best part about his defensive leadership cannot be seen through numbers or statistics, but in the humility he carries.

"I think it was more of a team honor," Huff said. "If we wouldn't have won, then I wouldn't have gotten defensive MVP. When I was up there accepting that award, I was accepting that on behalf of the whole defense because without the other 10 men on the field, that wouldn't have been possible. For me it was more the team's defense played well that day, and I was just the one to accept it for us."

On the field, the national championship team fought to make each other better. They competed, and they strove to give the effort necessary -- not only for individual gain, but for the betterment of the team. Off the field, the guys were bonded as brothers, and they acted as such. The collective mindset was in sync, and the bond was strong.

"We were all serious on the field. It was all business," said Huff. "Every day in practice, going against Vince (Young), going against the offense, the defense wanted to dominate and make them better. The offense also wanted to dominate and make us better, so when we were on the field, it was all about competition and making each other better. As soon as we stepped off the field, it was always a brotherhood. We were always together. We always put the team first. I think that was the main thing -- we knew to leave the physical, the competitiveness on the field. Once we got off the field, we were all family."

Along with playing for the football team, Huff ran track and field in 2005. Huff was a four-year football starter, who started in 50 of his 51 career games for Texas, while also qualifying for the NCAA regional meet during his senior track and field season. He ran the lead leg on Texas' 400-meter relay that year, which took second place at the Big 12 Championships.

"Track was always my first love," said Huff. "I started running track when I was 5 and every summer, I would run summer track. Track was my first love, and I really thought I would run track in college, but when you get a football scholarship, you don't turn it down. You really have no choice. Track was one of those things I always wanted to do, and I always wanted to run at Texas. Once I got to my junior year, I talked to Coach (Mack) Brown, and they gave me the opportunity to run track one spring, and it was definitely a great experience."

Huff will enter the Hall of Honor this year with a former teammate, Vince Young. The two shared many memories together at UT, and their legacy will continue to flow through the athletics program as they share one more title, one more award.

"It's definitely special," said Huff regarding being inducted with Young. "The main reason we won the National Championship is because we were one team. Nobody really put themselves above the team, so for me to go in with Vince definitely shows that team was one big family."

Huff's career at Texas propelled him into his time playing in the NFL. A first-round draft pick (seventh overall) of the Oakland Raiders in 2006, Huff played eight NFL seasons. He played in 118 career games with 94 starts, posting 446 tackles, 11 interceptions and defended 55 passes. His career culminated when he played in the Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos in 2013.

In speaking about how Texas helped prepare him for professional play, Huff noted that his brothers on the field and the level of expectation that came from the coaching staff helped to aide him in the NFL.

"The biggest thing is you have coaches that are coaching you like NFL coaches," said Huff. "Every day in practice, you're going against an NFL player; every day in practice, I was going against Vince Young, and Roy Williams was playing receiver for Texas at the time. Every day you're going against NFL caliber receivers.

"If I was telling any high school kid about which school to go to, hands down, it would be Texas," said Huff. "There is a tradition, a pride, a legacy that comes with playing at The University of Texas. If you grew up in Texas, then you grew up seeing the Longhorns all of your life; you grew up seeing the burnt orange. Growing up in Texas and having the chance to play at The University of Texas was the best feeling in the world."

Day of Distinction: 2015 Men's and Women's Hall of Honor Induction

Please join Texas Athletics as we induct 13 decorated and distinguished former University of Texas student-athletes and staff into the Men's and Women's Athletics Halls of Honor on Friday, Sept. 25

Tickets start at $35. To purchase, or if you have additional questions, please call (512) 232-4422.

The University of Texas at Austin Athletics