Walt Harris (2017) - Hall of Fame

Walt Harris

Induction:
2017
Class:
1995

Walt Harris is one of the all-time great performers on the football field in MSU history, but perhaps his most important accomplishment was what he did to help kickstart the Jackie Sherrill Era at MSU, one of the first to pave the way for MSU's all-time winningest coach.

Harris made an immediate impact for Jackie Sherrill's Bulldogs, emerging as a starter his freshman season at cornerback. As a sophomore, he tied the school record with six interceptions en route to earning second-team All-SEC honors. After earning All-SEC accolades again as a junior finishing fifth in the nation with six picks, he was named All-SEC again as a senior and was invited to play in the Senior Bowl. The LaGrange, Ga., native, whose 16 interceptions are tied with Johnthan Banks as the most in school history, was selected with the 13th overall pick of the 1996 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears. He spent 13 years in the league with four teams, and made the 2006 Pro Bowl when he was with the San Francisco 49ers.