Michael Huff Michael Wayne Huff , II ( born March 6 , 1983 ) is an American football safety who is currently a free agent in the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for the University of Texas , and was recognized as an All - American and the top college defensive back . He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders with the seventh overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft . He has also been a member of the Baltimore Ravens . Early years . Huff was born in 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 . 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 the USC Trojans , 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 . Track and field . Huff also ran track and field at the University of Texas at Austin , where he recorded personal bests of 6 . 67 seconds in the 60 meters and 10 . 13 seconds in the 100 meters . Professional career . Oakland Raiders . 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 Super Bowl XXXVII to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 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 , he was 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 cornerback s Ron Bartell and Shawntae Spencer forced the team to move Huff to cornerback before Oakland ' s week 3 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers . Huff was cut by the Oakland Raiders on March 12 , 2013 . Baltimore Ravens . 2013 season . On March 27 , 2013 Huff agreed to terms with the Baltimore Ravens on a three - year deal worth $ 6 million . On October 30 , 2013 Huff was released by the Baltimore Ravens . Denver Broncos . On November 19 , 2013 Huff was signed by the Denver Broncos .