Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame

Tom Walters
- Induction:
- 1981
Tommy Walters was a versatile halfback for Southern Miss during the 1962 and 1963 football seasons and made numerous contributions to those teams including a key role on the 1962 team that captured the UPI College Division National Championship.
   Walters was a player that was utilized in a number of different roles by Coach Pie Vann and his staff because of his versatility. He had the toughness and the speed and quickness to be an outstanding ball carrier and at the same time could combine those skills with his good hands to provide the team with another weapon as a pass receiver. Those talents also made him a strong defensive player as well.
   He had the type of attitude that fit into the Vann style. Willing to do whatever he could to help the team win, Walters readily accepted his role on the team and strived to do as well as he could whenever and wherever he was asked to play.
   Ask those who watched him play and they will tell you at 6-2, 181-pounds Walters was as tough a player to have ever suited up for the Golden Eagles.    Walters joined the team in the spring of 1962 and immediately impressed the coaching staff and proved quickly that he would fight for playing time in the fall.
   He would carry the ball 11 times during the 1962 season for 78 yards, while playing in a reserve role and a valuable member of the special teams. He was also one of the best pass receivers on that team, working as a slotback, catching eight passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns. Only two players caught more passes than Walters that year. He had begun the year seeing most of his action on defense and had two interceptions for 45 yards. Later in the season he began to see more playing time on offense, primarily in passing situations. He also returned three punts that season for 26 yards.
   That 1962 captured the UPI College Division National Championship with a 9-1 record with the only loss an 8-6 decision to Memphis.
   Walters role got bigger on the 1963 team that finished 5-3-1. He carried the ball 46 times for 181 yards and two touchdowns, caught nine passes for 94 yards, returned two kickoffs for 73 yards, returned eight punts for 57 yards and had an interception. That team got off to a slow start that season, but roared back to win four of its last five games. Walters was one of the key defensive players that season and the Southern defense limited its opponents to just 118.1 yards per game and shutout five teams, while allowing only 64 points.
   Although Walters probably won’t be included on any list of the great pure running backs at Southern Miss, but without a doubt he would be included on a list of the most versatile and most valuable the school has ever produced.
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   Walters was a player that was utilized in a number of different roles by Coach Pie Vann and his staff because of his versatility. He had the toughness and the speed and quickness to be an outstanding ball carrier and at the same time could combine those skills with his good hands to provide the team with another weapon as a pass receiver. Those talents also made him a strong defensive player as well.
   He had the type of attitude that fit into the Vann style. Willing to do whatever he could to help the team win, Walters readily accepted his role on the team and strived to do as well as he could whenever and wherever he was asked to play.
   Ask those who watched him play and they will tell you at 6-2, 181-pounds Walters was as tough a player to have ever suited up for the Golden Eagles.    Walters joined the team in the spring of 1962 and immediately impressed the coaching staff and proved quickly that he would fight for playing time in the fall.
   He would carry the ball 11 times during the 1962 season for 78 yards, while playing in a reserve role and a valuable member of the special teams. He was also one of the best pass receivers on that team, working as a slotback, catching eight passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns. Only two players caught more passes than Walters that year. He had begun the year seeing most of his action on defense and had two interceptions for 45 yards. Later in the season he began to see more playing time on offense, primarily in passing situations. He also returned three punts that season for 26 yards.
   That 1962 captured the UPI College Division National Championship with a 9-1 record with the only loss an 8-6 decision to Memphis.
   Walters role got bigger on the 1963 team that finished 5-3-1. He carried the ball 46 times for 181 yards and two touchdowns, caught nine passes for 94 yards, returned two kickoffs for 73 yards, returned eight punts for 57 yards and had an interception. That team got off to a slow start that season, but roared back to win four of its last five games. Walters was one of the key defensive players that season and the Southern defense limited its opponents to just 118.1 yards per game and shutout five teams, while allowing only 64 points.
   Although Walters probably won’t be included on any list of the great pure running backs at Southern Miss, but without a doubt he would be included on a list of the most versatile and most valuable the school has ever produced.
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