Oklahoma State University Athletics
Larry Porter
July 29, 2004 | Cowboy Football
Last season saw Porter's crew carry on the tradition of “Tailback U.” with second-round draft choice Tatum Bell, Vernand Morency and Seymore Shaw combining for more than 2,500 yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground. Porter began his coaching career at Wooddale High School in Memphis, Tenn., where he served as head track and field coach, while also assisting with the running backs and defensive backs on the football squad. He spent two seasons at Wooddale before moving on to Tennessee-Martin as the running backs coach in 1998.
Porter joined the Arkansas State staff in March of 1999 and during his time in Jonesboro, coached running back Jonathan Adams to back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2000-01. Under Porter's tutelage, Adams, a Doak Walker Award and All-American candidate, finished his collegiate career as the second all-time leading rusher at ASU. Adams signed with the New Orleans Saints in the spring.
Porter attended the University of Memphis where he was a four-year letterman and co-captain of the football team in 1993. He was an All-South Independent team member and Doak Walker Award nominee as well during his playing career as a running back for the Tigers. Porter holds the third-best single game rushing mark in school history, running for 206 yards against Arkansas State in 1990. He led Memphis in rushing three straight seasons and finished his tenure on the gridiron third on the school's career rushing chart with 2,194 yards. Porter received his bachelor of science degree in education in 1996.
Porter was born on April 28, 1972 in Jackson, Miss. and graduated from Columbus High School in Columbus, Ga. in 1990.
