Texas Tech football: The most underrated players of the Mike Leach era

S Daniel Charbonnet

We will always love Daniel Charbonnet for his heroic pick-six against Texas in 2008.  But sometimes we might take for granted just how good of a safety he was.

After transferring in from Duke after the 2004 season, he recorded 105 tackles and six interceptions from 2006-08.  And as a senior, he was excellent.

A central figure in Tech’s special ’08 season, the native of The Woodlands was able to come up with five interceptions and 61 tackles.  That was good for All-Big 12 second-team honors.

Charbonnet’s best game that season was against SMU in Lubbock.  That day he had only two tackles but came up with three interceptions.   He also had a pick against Eastern Washington in the season-opener.

But his defining moment came when Tech took down No. 1 UT in Lubbock.  WIth 7:44 to go in the third quarter, Texas QB Colt McCoy took a snap from his own seven-yard line with his team down 22-13.

Looking left, McCoy telegraphed a pass to Jordan Shipley allowing Charbonnet to undercut the route and make the interception at the 18.  He then weaved his way to the left to reach the endzone and put the Red Raiders up 29-13.

Charbonnet really had just one standout season in Lubbock.  But it was well-timed as it came in the most successful season in the history of Tech football and that’s why we shouldn’t ever forget his contributions to the program.