Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame

Chuck Cook
- Induction:
- 1993
Chuck Cook was one of the most versatile football players in the history of Southern Miss football. He began his career as a running back and a wide receiver, before finally switching to the defensive side of the ball where he established himself as an outstanding safety. Coupled with the fact that he was also utilized as a kick returner, Cook’s versatility made up one of the school’s best.
He came to Southern Miss out of Oak Grove High School in Hattiesburg and his father, Hamp, had also played football at Southern Miss as an offensive lineman from 1952 to 1954 and who also is in the USM Sports Hall of Fame and once coached as an assistant for the Golden Eagles.
He was one of those rare players that could move in and play immediately as a true freshman and during his rookie year of 1977 as a wide receiver he contributed a pass reception for 40 yards and a touchdown and returned four kickoffs for 71 yards (17.8 average). That 40-yard touchdown catch came in his first collegiate game against Troy State. But Cook’s contributions were much greater than the statistics show, as his special teams play helped make the Golden Eagles one of the best in the country in that department. That 1977 team finished the year with a 6-6 record and pulled off the feat of defeating Auburn, Ole Miss and Mississippi State in the same year.
In 1978, now a running back, Cook continued to be utilized as both a running back and special teams player. He carried the ball 32 times that year for 130 yards (4.1 average) and two touchdowns and caught a pass for 16 yards. He was the primary kick off returner for the Golden Eagles that season with 16 for a 22.8 yard average. The team went 7-4 that season which included a 22-17 win over Mississippi State.
In the spring of 1979 Cook switched to strong safety and immediately showed everyone that he would challenge playing time at his new position. He was a valuable reserve that season and continued to return kickoffs. Cook was in on 13 tackles that year and also returned 20 kickoffs for an 18.8 yard average. The Golden Eagles finished that year at 6-4-1 and swept the two games they played against Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
As a senior in 1980 Cook was a part of something special as the Golden Eagles earned a post-season bowl bid for the first time since 1957. Cook in his first year as a starter at strong safety led the “Nasty Bunch” defense in interceptions with three and also had 70 tackles, three tackles for losses and four passes broken up. The team went 9-3 that season including a 16-14 win over McNeese State in the Independence Bowl.
Cook would finish his career with 40 kickoff returns for 810 yards (20.25 average). Only five players have ever returned more kickoffs in their Southern Miss careers and only six players have ever returned kickoffs for more yardage
His versatility made him special and Chuck Cook became one of the players that helped lay a strong tradition for Southern Miss football.
He came to Southern Miss out of Oak Grove High School in Hattiesburg and his father, Hamp, had also played football at Southern Miss as an offensive lineman from 1952 to 1954 and who also is in the USM Sports Hall of Fame and once coached as an assistant for the Golden Eagles.
He was one of those rare players that could move in and play immediately as a true freshman and during his rookie year of 1977 as a wide receiver he contributed a pass reception for 40 yards and a touchdown and returned four kickoffs for 71 yards (17.8 average). That 40-yard touchdown catch came in his first collegiate game against Troy State. But Cook’s contributions were much greater than the statistics show, as his special teams play helped make the Golden Eagles one of the best in the country in that department. That 1977 team finished the year with a 6-6 record and pulled off the feat of defeating Auburn, Ole Miss and Mississippi State in the same year.
In 1978, now a running back, Cook continued to be utilized as both a running back and special teams player. He carried the ball 32 times that year for 130 yards (4.1 average) and two touchdowns and caught a pass for 16 yards. He was the primary kick off returner for the Golden Eagles that season with 16 for a 22.8 yard average. The team went 7-4 that season which included a 22-17 win over Mississippi State.
In the spring of 1979 Cook switched to strong safety and immediately showed everyone that he would challenge playing time at his new position. He was a valuable reserve that season and continued to return kickoffs. Cook was in on 13 tackles that year and also returned 20 kickoffs for an 18.8 yard average. The Golden Eagles finished that year at 6-4-1 and swept the two games they played against Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
As a senior in 1980 Cook was a part of something special as the Golden Eagles earned a post-season bowl bid for the first time since 1957. Cook in his first year as a starter at strong safety led the “Nasty Bunch” defense in interceptions with three and also had 70 tackles, three tackles for losses and four passes broken up. The team went 9-3 that season including a 16-14 win over McNeese State in the Independence Bowl.
Cook would finish his career with 40 kickoff returns for 810 yards (20.25 average). Only five players have ever returned more kickoffs in their Southern Miss careers and only six players have ever returned kickoffs for more yardage
His versatility made him special and Chuck Cook became one of the players that helped lay a strong tradition for Southern Miss football.
Charles Huff Weekly Press Conference - The Georgia Southern Game
Tuesday, October 07
Charles Huff Weekly Press Conference - September 30, 2025 (Bye Week)
Tuesday, September 30
Postgame Press Conference - The Jax State Game
Sunday, September 28
Charles Huff Weekly Press Conference - The Jax State Game
Tuesday, September 23