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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
