Hall of Fame

- Induction:
- 2005
- Class:
- 1976
One of the great running backs in Mississippi State football history, Walter Packer played under Coach Bob Tyler from 1973-76.Â
Packer made an immediate impact on the gridiron as a freshman, rushing for 181 yards and two touchdowns on 50 carries. He also caught two passes for 54 yards.Â
He had a breakout sophomore season in 1974, helping lead the Bulldogs to a 9-3 record and No. 17 final ranking with a victory in the Sun Bowl. Packer recorded 157 carries for 994 yards and six touchdowns, leading the SEC in rushing and being named First Team All-SEC. He rushed for over 100 yards in critical wins over Kansas State, Memphis State and Louisville while scoring twice in a 31-13 rout of Ole Miss.Â
Packer set a Sun Bowl record with 184 rushing yards in a 26-24 win over North Carolina. He found paydirt twice that afternoon in what was State’s first bowl game in 11 years. The Bulldogs’ 455 total rushing yards remain a Sun Bowl record. Â
He added to his total on the ground in 1975 with 1,012 yards and seven touchdowns, ranking third in the SEC in rushing yardage and being named Second Team All-SEC. He concluded his MSU career with 633 rushing yards and six touchdowns in a 1976 campaign that saw the Dawgs go 9-2 with a No. 20 final ranking. His 6.6 yards per carry led the SEC.Â
Packer was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons and played three seasons professionally. State compiled an overall record of 28-14-3 during his career in the Maroon and White.Â