The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Michael Huff inducted into the NFF College Football Hall of Fame
12.10.2025 | Football
2005 Thorpe Award winner and Defensive MVP of the National Championship game, Michael Huff becomes 23rd Longhorn College Football Hall of Famer.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Football Longhorn Legend Michael Huff was inducted into the National Football Foundation's (NFF) College Football Hall of Fame during the 67th NFF Annual Awards Dinner in Las Vegas on Tuesday night.
More than 1,800 people attended, and countless more watched on ESPN+ as the star-studded 2025 NFF College Football Hall of Fame Class received college football's ultimate honor. The NFF also honored 16 of the game's top student-athletes, including Texas linebacker Trey Moore, who collected postgraduate scholarships as members of the 2025 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. More than 50 previous NFF Hall of Fame inductees returned, and 125 colleges and universities sent representatives to attend the fabled affair. The 2025 Hall of Fame class included Montee Ball (Wisconsin), Gregg Carr (Auburn), Blake Elliott (Saint John's [MN]), Greg Eslinger (Minnesota), Terry Hanratty (Notre Dame), Graham Harrell (Texas Tech), John Henderson (Tennessee), Michael Huff (Texas), Jim Kleinsasser (North Dakota), Alex Mack (California), Terrence Metcalf (Mississippi), Haloti Ngata (Oregon), Steve Slaton (West Virginia), Darrin Smith (Miami, FL), Michael Strahan (Texas Southern), Dennis Thurman (Southern California), Michael Vick (Virginia Tech), Ryan Yarborough (Wyoming), and coaches Larry Blakeney (Troy), Larry Korver (Northwestern College [IA]), Urban Meyer (Bowling Green, Utah, Florida, Ohio State), and Nick Saban (Toledo, Michigan State, LSU, Alabama).
The 2005 Jim Thorpe Award winner and Defensive MVP of the 2005 National Championship game, Huff (2002-05) was selected for enshrinement into the College Football Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 2025 in January. Huff was chosen from a ballot that included 77 players and nine coaches from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and 101 players and 34 coaches from the NCAA divisional and NAIA ranks.
The Irving, Texas native is the 23rd Texas player to enter the College Football Hall of Fame, joining Hub Bechtol (1944-46), Earl Campbell (1974-77), Doug English (1972-74), Chris Gilbert (1966-68), Jerry Gray (1981-84), Derrick Johnson (2001-04), Johnnie Johnson (1976-79), Malcolm Kutner (1939-41), Bobby Layne (1944-47), Roosevelt Leaks (1972-74), Bud McFadin (1948-50), Bob McKay (1968-69), Steve McMichael (1976-79), Tommy Nobis (1963-65), James Saxton (1959-61), Harley Sewell (1950-52), Kenneth Sims (1978-81), Jerry Sisemore (1970-72), Bud Sprague (1923-24), Harrison Stafford (1930-32), Ricky Williams (1995-98) and Vince Young (2003-05). Three former Longhorn coaches are also in the Hall: Dana Bible (1937-46), Mack Brown (1998-2013), and Darrell Royal (1957-76).
Huff, who currently serves as Texas Football's assistant director of player development, was a two-sport athlete for the Longhorns who earned All-Big 12 honors in both football and track and field. Texas' first-ever Thorpe Award winner as the nation's top defensive back in 2005, he capped off a tremendous season and career that year by earning Defensive MVP honors in the Longhorns' thrilling BCS Championship game victory over USC, 41-38. Best known for his football IQ, pass defending and playmaking skills, one of Huff's most memorable plays was the tackle he made on fourth-and-2, late in the National Championship game, that gave Texas the ball for their game-winning drive. He recorded 12 tackles, one tackle for loss and a fumble recovery in helping the Horns secure their first national title in 35 years.
A two-time All-American who earned unanimous first-team honors as a senior, Huff was a four-year starter for the Longhorns, starting 50-of-51 career games. One of only 25 unanimous first-team All-Americans in the history of Texas Football, he was a two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection who recorded 318 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, seven interceptions, 44 pass breakups (No. 6 in program history), six forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Texas registered a 45-6 record (28-4, Big 12) in his four seasons, posting at least 10 wins each year and three Top 6 final rankings (1st/2005, 4th/2004, 11th/2003, 6th/2002). He was 3-1 in bowl games, including back-to-back Rose Bowl victories in 2004 and 2005. Huff still holds UT records for interception returns for touchdowns for both a single season (two, in both 2002 and 2003) and career (four), along with career defensive scores (five). His 23.1 yards per interception return in a career is also still a Longhorn record, and his 162 career interception return yards rank fifth. He was additionally a special teams standout who blocked three kicks.
In his one season of track, he qualified for the NCAA regional meet with a 10.48 in the 100 meters and ran the lead leg on Texas' 400-meter relay that took second place at the Big 12 Championships. That foursome went on to finish third at the NCAA Midwest Regional meet.
A first-round draft pick (7th overall) of the Oakland Raiders in 2006, Huff played eight NFL seasons, mostly as a versatile player who started at both safety spots and cornerback during his career. He played in 118 career games with 94 starts and posted 446 tackles, 11 interceptions and 55 passes defended. He culminated his career by playing in the Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos in 2013. Huff was tabbed second-team All-Pro in 2010.
Very active in the community both during his time at UT and currently, Huff was recognized by the University of Texas campus group SafeHorns with the Community Impact Award in 2021. The Raiders also named Huff their Walter Payton Man of the Year honoree in 2012 for his community, charity and volunteer efforts.
Huff graduated with a degree in youth and community studies in December 2005 and was enshrined in the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor in 2015. He was inducted into the Irving Independent School District Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023, and his jersey number 23 has been retired in his honor at his high school, Nimitz.
