Jim Sears (2003) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Jim Sears

Induction:
2003
Class:
1952

Jim Sears was one of USC’s top football players of the early-1950s and, despite being just 5-9 and 164 pounds, certainly was the top player in the West as a senior in 1952. A 3-year letterman (1950-51-52) as a halfback and safety, he was a consensus All-American in 1952 when Troy won the conference title, finished fifth in the AP poll and beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. In 1952, he led USC in passing (48 completions, 712 yards), total offense (1,030 yards), scoring (36 points) and punt returns (478 yards). Seventh in the 1952 Heisman Trophy voting, he won the Voit Trophy (given to the outstanding player on the Pacific Coast) and Pop Warner Award (given to the most valuable senior on the Pacific Coast) that season, as well as All-Conference first team honors. He was voted USC’s Most Inspirational Player as a senior and was selected to play in both the 1953 College All-Star Game and Hula Bowl. He also was USC’s kickoff return leader in 1950 (198 yards) and had 544 career yards in punt returns. He was picked in the sixth round of the 1953 NFL draft by the Colts and played for the Chicago Cardinals (1954, 1957-58), Los Angeles Chargers (1960) and Denver Broncos (1960-61). He then was a USC assistant coach in 1959. Later in life, he was an automobile dealer. He came to USC from El Camino College via Inglewood High (he was inducted into the El Camino College Athletic Hall of Fame). He died on Jan. 4, 2002, at age 70.