Andin McLeod (1981) - Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame

Andin McLeod

Induction:
1981

To be successful as a running back one must possess several skills. You obviously must have the speed and quickness to elude opposing tacklers. You must have the strength and power to bowl over tacklers and punish them at the same time. And you must have the ability to read the defense and know immediately in which spots and directions the weaknesses are.
   Andin McLeod was that type of player for the University of Southern Mississippi during the 1959 and 1960 football seasons. Add to those talents the knowledge of the game and intelligence and leadership he brought along and it is easy to see why he is regarded as one of the school’s best players.
   McLeod was another in the long line of Southern Miss backs that although they weren’t great breakaway runners or great coverage guys on defensive were valuable by the fact that they could do so many things. Not only could they excel in their true positions, but relished the idea of being on the field as much as they could and playing an important part in the kicking game.
   McLeod was one of the great leaders on the two Southern Miss teams he played on and was one of the players the team looked up to because they knew he would do whatever was necessary to help them win.
   McLeod was red-shirted during the 1958 season, but as he grew in size and strength and mature as a halfback it was obvious to the fans and the coaching staff that he would have a key role during the 1959 season.
   He responded with an excellent year that showed how versatile a player he could be. He carried the ball 33 times that year for 162 yards (4.9 average) and caught 12 passes for 164 yards (13.8 average) and two touchdowns coming out of the backfield to lead the team in receiving.
   McLeod was also a valuable member of the special teams that year where in addition to playing of the coverage teams he returned a punt for five yards and two kickoffs for 21 yards. On defense he had one of the 14 interceptions they had that season.
   The 1959 team posted a 6-4 record.
   In 1960 he saw even more action from his halfback position carrying the ball 47 times for 176 yards (3.7 average) and catching four passes for 37 yards (9.3 average) and a touchdown. On the specialty teams he returned two punts for four yards and four kickoffs for 76 yards. Defensively he had a pair of interceptions for 16 yards.
   The 1964 team would finish with a 6-4 record.
   When Southern Miss fans look back at the career of Andin McLeod they remember a player who poured his heart out for the school. A player in ever sense of the word was a true football player. His name may not appear in the record book as much as some others, but his place is secure in the Southern Miss Sports Hall of Fame.