Ed Langford (1972) - Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame

Ed Langford

Induction:
1972

   Eddie Langford was one of the truly fine running backs to play for Southern Miss over a three year period from 1947 to 1949. He had the heart of a champion and the desire to succeed, even when it might seem that the odds were against him.
   Langford first began seeing action for Southern Miss during the 1947 season and although playing time was tough to get, with players like Bubba Phillips, Benny Ray Nobles and Morris (Lightin') Brown carrying the ball, he still was able to make an impression on Coach Reed Green and his coaching staff.
   Langford would carry the ball only a dozen times that year, but rushed for 104 yards, an average of 8.4 yards per carry and score a touchdown. That 1947 team coached by Reed Green posted a 7-3 record that included an impressive 19-13 win over Auburn and victories in four of its last five games.
   It was during his initial season with the team that Langford started to prove he could play with the "big boys". He did whatever he could to help the team win that year and was a valuable member of the specialty teams, willing to throw his body all over the place to make tackles and blocks.
   The 1948 season would see Langford begin to see much more playing time on both sides of the ball, but the team was once again loaded with players that could run the ball like Phillips, Frank Spruiell and Frank Brown. Langford would carry the ball 28 times that season for 68 yards and score three touchdowns in helping the team to another 7-3 record and four times that year they scored over 38 points in a game. That team averaged 219.9 rushing yards a game and scored 22 touchdowns on the ground. They won their final three games of the season outscoring their opponents 94-14.
   Langford would enjoy his finest season at Southern Miss during the 1949 season as he proved his versatility, carrying the ball a career high 54 times that season for 252 yards and five touchdowns. He also was utilized as a receiver that season by new head coach Thad (Pie) Vann and caught five passes for an incredible 149 yards, an average of 29.8 yards a catch. The speedy running back also was utilized as a kick returner, with four kickoff returns for 74 yards (18.5 yard average) and one punt return for 17 yards.
   That 1949 team would post a third straight 7-3 record and average almost 200 yards a game rushing and 29.9 points per game. That team also finished the year by winning six of its last seven games.
   Some players are often described as "team" players. Players who are willing to do their part, without ever thinking about what's in it for me, or how much publicity they are going to receive. Langford was that type of player. A man this teammates looked up to for some of the inspiration they sometimes needed to succeed.
   Langford was also a standout performer on the baseball team in 1948 and 1949.
   A player with a lot of heart and gifted with the great speed and running ability, is how Langford would be remembered. But his accomplishments and contributions to Southern Miss football, were certainly more than enough to make the Hall of Fame.