SEC and Mississippi State All-Time Great Dies at 63

Wayne Harris was one of the best offensive linemen to ever play for Mississippi State

Dec 26, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; A Mississippi State Bulldogs helmet on the field prior to the game between the Miami Redhawks and the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Tropicana Field. / Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

Tough news was released on Sunday afternoon as Mississippi State announced the passing of all-time Bulldogs offensive guard Wayne Harris' passing.

Wayne Harris, one of the greatest offensive linemen in Mississippi State football history and a standout in the SEC, passed away on Friday, February 21, in his hometown of Water Valley at 63 years old.

The MSU Family mourns the loss of Wayne Harris, who passed away at 63 in his hometown of Water Valley.

Harris was an All-SEC and All-American guard from 1979-82. He won the SEC's Jacobs Blocking Trophy twice.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and teammates. pic.twitter.com/H94vyAwIkC

— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) February 23, 2025

Harris earned a place among the all-time great Bulldogs for his dominant play from 1979 to 1982. Head coach Emory Bellard's triple-option offense was a perfect fit for Harris, who initially joined as a tackle but moved to guard in 1979.

By 1980, Harris was a key figure on a powerful Mississippi State offensive line and helped the Bulldogs upset No. 1 Alabama and ern a spot in the Sun Bowl that post-season, In 1981 he won the prestigious Jacobs Blocking Trophy. He repeated as the SEC's top lineman in 1982, joining an elite group of players with consecutive wins. Harris also earned All-American honors in his senior season.

After college, Harris played three seasons with the New Jersey Generals in the USFL. He was inducted into the Mississippi State M-Club Sports Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.

More From Mississippi State On SI

Veteran Coach Joins Mississippi State Coaching Staff