ToughJ.Riggins
Hall of Famer
Kudos to draft daddy for asking why this kid with 4.31 hand-timed speed and a great h.s resume from The Woodlands Texas, never got a scholarship offer from Texas Tech or a starting job until his senior year. He is now tearing it up. Here's the draft daddy article. This kid is friends with also former Woodlands and Texas Tech player Danny Amendola.
From Draft Daddy:
The Houston Chronicle looks at Texas Tech defensive back Daniel Charbonnet, who leads the nation with four interceptions.
DD.comment: This is a kid we've been touting for a while now due to his aggressive, ball-hawking nature and reported 4.31 speed. But, to our surprise, he's never really had a shot to prove himself on some marginal Texas Tech defensive units. Good to see he's getting his long overdue chance to start and, perhaps, impress pro scout before his eligibility expires.
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Here's the linked article:
Charbonnet feeling at home as a Red Raider
After leaving Duke, The Woodlands product shines as starter with Tech
By TERRANCE HARRIS Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Sept. 16, 2008, 10:52PM
Texas Tech's Daniel Charbonnet leads the nation with four interceptions.
It all seemed to be working in Daniel Charbonnet's favor four years ago as a freshman at Duke.
He was at one of the most prestigious universities in the country and making a major statement on the football field for the Blue Devils. But something wasn't quite right for The Woodlands product.
He longed for home, among other things. That's when he picked up the phone and called Texas Tech.
"I was homesick and I really wanted to be part of a program that's been established for the past decade and really more," Charbonnet said. "One of my best friends (Danny Amendola, who's on the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad) played here, and he had just finished his freshman year so that helped convinced me to come here, too."
While at the time it seemed like a questionable move to give up a Duke education, four years later his vision seems clearer. Charbonnet finally has worked his way into a starting role with the Red Raiders at strong safety, and it's partially because of his play that their defense is beginning to generate a fraction of the buzz the offense has for years.
A surreal experience
Charbonnet has been instrumental in a more aggressive ball-hawk approach that has Tech No. 1 in the country in interceptions with nine. He has led the way with a nation-leading four picks through three games for the 11th-ranked Raiders .
"It was a lot of fun being out there. The stadium was packed and everyone was having a good time. It was kind of surreal," said Charbonnet, who was recognized Monday as the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week . "My first two happened on back-to-back series in the first quarter.
"It just happened so fast I had to settle myself down and really focus on the rest of the game, because we still had to play 31/2 quarters of football. So I just really had to focus on playing the next play, doing my assignment and doing my job."
While this is Charbonnet's first season as a starter, his play has been consistent from what coach Mike Leach has seen from the former walk-on the past two seasons as a reserve and constant on the Raiders' special-teams unit.
Produces in any role
"The plays will come in different shapes and sizes, but he's always had the knack for making plays at key times," said Leach, whose team hosts Massachusetts on Saturday. "It was the ultimate Daniel Charbonnet day Saturday."
It was the kind of outing Charbonnet could have only dreamed about four years ago when he decided to leave a program where he likely would have been a three-year starter .
He came to Tech knowing it would be tough to gain the type of role he enjoyed at Duke . But from the beginning, the player who didn't get much of a look from Tech coming out of high school was making his presence felt on the scout team.
That extended to special teams and in nickel and dime packages the next two seasons. Charbonnet earned a starting spot this fall after a spirited competition with several others that began during the spring and lasted well into two-a-days.
So, in his mind, it has been well worth what he left behind.
"I think looking back, I'm really glad I made the decision when I did," he said. "Even though I might have started more games, the overall college experience over here at Tech has been better for me personally because I've been able to meet some great people here and be part of some winning teams and have some fun seasons and go to some bowl games as well."
terrance.harris@chron.com
From Draft Daddy:
The Houston Chronicle looks at Texas Tech defensive back Daniel Charbonnet, who leads the nation with four interceptions.
DD.comment: This is a kid we've been touting for a while now due to his aggressive, ball-hawking nature and reported 4.31 speed. But, to our surprise, he's never really had a shot to prove himself on some marginal Texas Tech defensive units. Good to see he's getting his long overdue chance to start and, perhaps, impress pro scout before his eligibility expires.
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------
Here's the linked article:
Charbonnet feeling at home as a Red Raider
After leaving Duke, The Woodlands product shines as starter with Tech
By TERRANCE HARRIS Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Sept. 16, 2008, 10:52PM
Texas Tech's Daniel Charbonnet leads the nation with four interceptions.
It all seemed to be working in Daniel Charbonnet's favor four years ago as a freshman at Duke.
He was at one of the most prestigious universities in the country and making a major statement on the football field for the Blue Devils. But something wasn't quite right for The Woodlands product.
He longed for home, among other things. That's when he picked up the phone and called Texas Tech.
"I was homesick and I really wanted to be part of a program that's been established for the past decade and really more," Charbonnet said. "One of my best friends (Danny Amendola, who's on the Dallas Cowboys' practice squad) played here, and he had just finished his freshman year so that helped convinced me to come here, too."
While at the time it seemed like a questionable move to give up a Duke education, four years later his vision seems clearer. Charbonnet finally has worked his way into a starting role with the Red Raiders at strong safety, and it's partially because of his play that their defense is beginning to generate a fraction of the buzz the offense has for years.
A surreal experience
Charbonnet has been instrumental in a more aggressive ball-hawk approach that has Tech No. 1 in the country in interceptions with nine. He has led the way with a nation-leading four picks through three games for the 11th-ranked Raiders .
"It was a lot of fun being out there. The stadium was packed and everyone was having a good time. It was kind of surreal," said Charbonnet, who was recognized Monday as the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week . "My first two happened on back-to-back series in the first quarter.
"It just happened so fast I had to settle myself down and really focus on the rest of the game, because we still had to play 31/2 quarters of football. So I just really had to focus on playing the next play, doing my assignment and doing my job."
While this is Charbonnet's first season as a starter, his play has been consistent from what coach Mike Leach has seen from the former walk-on the past two seasons as a reserve and constant on the Raiders' special-teams unit.
Produces in any role
"The plays will come in different shapes and sizes, but he's always had the knack for making plays at key times," said Leach, whose team hosts Massachusetts on Saturday. "It was the ultimate Daniel Charbonnet day Saturday."
It was the kind of outing Charbonnet could have only dreamed about four years ago when he decided to leave a program where he likely would have been a three-year starter .
He came to Tech knowing it would be tough to gain the type of role he enjoyed at Duke . But from the beginning, the player who didn't get much of a look from Tech coming out of high school was making his presence felt on the scout team.
That extended to special teams and in nickel and dime packages the next two seasons. Charbonnet earned a starting spot this fall after a spirited competition with several others that began during the spring and lasted well into two-a-days.
So, in his mind, it has been well worth what he left behind.
"I think looking back, I'm really glad I made the decision when I did," he said. "Even though I might have started more games, the overall college experience over here at Tech has been better for me personally because I've been able to meet some great people here and be part of some winning teams and have some fun seasons and go to some bowl games as well."
terrance.harris@chron.com
