Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame
Don Fuell
- Induction:
- 1983
Don Fuell was one of the most talented quarterbacks to ever play for Southern Miss and his scrambling and running abilities made him a dangerous threat that was difficult to stop.
Fuell was well respected by his teammates and looked upon as the leader of the Golden Eagle football team. Time and time again in his career he was able to carry the team to victory and few quarterbacks in Southern history could run the option as well as he could.
Fuell came to Southern Miss from Guntersville, Alabama and actually began his career at Auburn before transferring. He went through spring training of 1959 with the team and showed that he needed more time to grasp the offensive system, but he immediately showed he had the skills to play on defense.
As the 1959 season unfolded Fuell, Billy Larson and Morris Meador were all seeing duty at quarterback. Fuell would wind up his sophomore year completing 21 of 41 passes for 356 yards and two touchdowns, but as a runner he was fourth on the team carrying 46 times for 178 yards. He also returned four punts that season for 42 yards. That 1959 club finished the year with a 6-4 record but showed great promise for the coming years.
The Golden Eagles had great depth at quarterback heading into the 1960 season and there was even some talk of Fuell moving to fullback. But as the season arrived Fuell quickly established himself as the No. 1 signal caller. For a second straight year he led the team in passing completing 42 of 80 passes for 652 yards and three touchdowns. He also led the team in rushing by carrying the ball 69 times for 385 yards, an average of 5.5 yards per carry. Defensively from his safety position he had a pair of interceptions for 40 yards and also returned seven punts for a 8.0 average and six kickoffs for a 21.0 yard average. The 1960 team started the year by winning four straight and five of its first six games, but stumbled down the stretch to finish 6-4.
Fuell entered his senior season drawing some attention from the pre-season all-star teams and playing his best football since arriving at Southern and also serving as co-captain, he led the team to an 8-2 record, including five wins in six games down the stretch. He had another productive year throwing the football, completing 56 of 101 passes for 678 yards and a touchdown. For the second year in a row he also led the team in rushing carrying a career high 104 times for a career high 417 yards. Fuell also had a sensational year returning kicks. He brought back 13 punts for an 11.2 yard average and eight kickoffs for a 28.0 yard average. He also made the third interception of his career.
Following his career he would play in the Senior Bowl all-star game, then be selected by the Houston Oilers of the AFL in the 26th round. He would play several seasons in the Canadian Football League and the NFL before retiring.
Fuell played baseball for Southern Miss in 1960.
Fuell was well respected by his teammates and looked upon as the leader of the Golden Eagle football team. Time and time again in his career he was able to carry the team to victory and few quarterbacks in Southern history could run the option as well as he could.
Fuell came to Southern Miss from Guntersville, Alabama and actually began his career at Auburn before transferring. He went through spring training of 1959 with the team and showed that he needed more time to grasp the offensive system, but he immediately showed he had the skills to play on defense.
As the 1959 season unfolded Fuell, Billy Larson and Morris Meador were all seeing duty at quarterback. Fuell would wind up his sophomore year completing 21 of 41 passes for 356 yards and two touchdowns, but as a runner he was fourth on the team carrying 46 times for 178 yards. He also returned four punts that season for 42 yards. That 1959 club finished the year with a 6-4 record but showed great promise for the coming years.
The Golden Eagles had great depth at quarterback heading into the 1960 season and there was even some talk of Fuell moving to fullback. But as the season arrived Fuell quickly established himself as the No. 1 signal caller. For a second straight year he led the team in passing completing 42 of 80 passes for 652 yards and three touchdowns. He also led the team in rushing by carrying the ball 69 times for 385 yards, an average of 5.5 yards per carry. Defensively from his safety position he had a pair of interceptions for 40 yards and also returned seven punts for a 8.0 average and six kickoffs for a 21.0 yard average. The 1960 team started the year by winning four straight and five of its first six games, but stumbled down the stretch to finish 6-4.
Fuell entered his senior season drawing some attention from the pre-season all-star teams and playing his best football since arriving at Southern and also serving as co-captain, he led the team to an 8-2 record, including five wins in six games down the stretch. He had another productive year throwing the football, completing 56 of 101 passes for 678 yards and a touchdown. For the second year in a row he also led the team in rushing carrying a career high 104 times for a career high 417 yards. Fuell also had a sensational year returning kicks. He brought back 13 punts for an 11.2 yard average and eight kickoffs for a 28.0 yard average. He also made the third interception of his career.
Following his career he would play in the Senior Bowl all-star game, then be selected by the Houston Oilers of the AFL in the 26th round. He would play several seasons in the Canadian Football League and the NFL before retiring.
Fuell played baseball for Southern Miss in 1960.
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