Check Texas Tech’s record book from now on, and it will show that Daniel Charbonnet had a special night on Saturday. Charbonnet wasn’t being modest when he said it didn’t feel that way to him.

“I’ve had games where I’ve had lots of tackles and felt like I did more in the game than (Saturday),” he said. “I played almost the whole game on defense and really only made three plays, because I don’t think I had a tackle or anything like that. A lot of times, I wasn’t really doing anything – I was just covering my guy – but those three plays I happened to be in the right spot.”

Charbonnet’s three interceptions had a lot to do with how easily Tech beat SMU 43-7. He had interceptions on the game’s first play, on SMU’s second series and with the Mustangs at the Tech 31-yard line in the third quarter.

No other player in Division I has matched Charbonnet’s four interceptions this season. Arguably none of them were as important as his making a strip and a fumble recovery at the goal line in a Week 2 game at Nevada, keeping the Wolf Pack from taking a lead in the second half.

As good as he’s been, Charbonnet had to fight just to join the starting lineup as a senior. He wasn’t heavily recruited, spent his first year playing for a two-win team at Duke and, at 5-foot-11 and 203 pounds, doesn’t fit the strong safety prototype.

“The reason he’s in there is because he makes and finishes plays,” defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill said. “Guys who make and finish the most plays are going to start. Charb makes and finishes the most plays. He just has that knack.”

Evidently, it runs in the family. Tech special teams coach Clay McGuire tries to quantify the value of his special-teams players by keeping a points system. He awards points for contributions such as coverage-unit tackles, big returns and good blocks and deducts points for things such as missed blocks and penalties.

The season points leader is freshman cornerback Taylor Charbonnet, Daniel’s brother.

“The thing they have in common is just a timeliness as far as making plays,” Tech coach Mike Leach said. “You can go through all the technical stuff you want to. A lot of people could have been there, but one of the Charbonnets was there. Daniel’s always had that knack, and so does the youngster. He does the same stuff.”

More startling than the fact Daniel Charbonnet picked off three passes Saturday is the reality that he could have had five.

In one instance, he closed in to hit an inside receiver only to have the pass tipped to the area he was vacating.

After he’d picked off two in two series, Charbonnet had another pass headed his way on the Mustangs’ third possession. It might have hit him in the numbers, except cornerback Jamar Wall beat him to it.

“I was like, I can’t believe this is happening,’ ” Charbonnet said, “and then Jamar jumped in front of me and got it. I didn’t mind. He was making a good play, and it was his man.”

Charbonnet generally was a key backup the last two years. Now, aside from cracking the starting lineup, he’s been an every-down player on defense. On running downs, he’s a safety. In passing situations, Anthony Hines takes Charbonnet’s spot and Charbonnet moves down to be a nickel back.

“They’re both fun,” Charbonnet said. “At safety, you get to sit back a little more and read the quarterback. When you’re playing nickel, things happen a little faster and receivers are going by you a little quicker. But you get different opportunities at different places.”

So far, he’s taking advantage of nearly every one.