John Sawyer (1985) - Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame

John Sawyer

Induction:
1985

John Sawyer was another in a line of great tight ends to play for Southern Mississippi’s Golden Eagles. He played for Coach P.W. Underwood during the 1972 through 1974 seasons.
   Sawyer was first elected to the Hall of Fame in 1980, the first year that he became eligible, a true tribute to the contributions he made as an outstanding tight end on teams that really didn’t stress passing as their strongest mode of attack.
   Although he is remembered for his great hands and his strong running after catching the football, Sawyer is also remembered for the leadership and guidance he gave to a young Southern Miss team in 1974, when they were forced to play all 11 games on the road because of stadium renovation.
   Sawyer, as they say in the trade, “came to play” everytime he lined up. He was recruited to Southern Miss by assistant coach Barney Poole, who himself was a great pass receiver and had led the country one year during his college days. Sawyer didn’t wind up a national leader but he caught and fought his way into the Golden Eagle record book.
   He came to Southern from Baker, Louisiana High School and even though he measured just over six feet and only about 200 pounds when he arrived on campus it was obvious to the coaches that he had the tools to be an outstanding tight end.
   As a sophomore in 1972 he began the season as a reserve and didn’t see a great deal of playing time, but as the season unfolded Sawyer began to see more and more action. He wound up the 1972 season as the fourth leading receiver on the club with 21 catches for 242 yards and a touchdown. That team struggled to a 3-7-1 year and lost several heartbreakers.
   Sawyer moved into the starting lineup in 1973 and was the second leading receiver on that team with 22 catches for 272 yards and a touchdown. He began that year to establish himself as one of the top tight ends in the country as he continued to improve in all areas and had especially improved on his size and strength with hard work in the weight room.
   In 1974 on a team that included over 50 sophomores Sawyer was elected permanent team captain and his leadership helped steer that young Southern Miss team to a 6-5 record, enough though it played all 11 games away from home. Sawyer snagged 26 passes that year for 390 yards and two touchdowns and was named all-South Independent and honorable mention All-American.
   He is the 12th all-time leading pass receiver in Southern Miss history finishing with 69 catches for 904 yards and four touchdowns.
   He was taken in the 11th round by the Houston Oilers in the 1975 NFL draft and played 10 seasons with the Oilers, Seattle and Denver.
   Sawyer was one of the most reliable receivers in the history of Southern Miss football and the man the Golden Eagles always looked to when the game was on the line.