When he returned to the United States] in the summer of 1946, he read a newspaper advertisement about tryouts at Auburn University and decided to attend.

During his recovery, a family friend turned out to be the sister of Frank Howard, the head coach at Clemson College.

[1] As a sophomore with the Tigers, Cone was the starting fullback in a backfield that included Ray Mathews.

The 1948 team accomplished a 10–0 undefeated season and beat the University of Missouri, 24–23, in the 1949 Gator Bowl.

As a senior, his 184 carries for 845 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns and 92 points at the time were all school season records.

Cone led the Packers in scoring in five of the next six seasons, including leading the league with 16 field goals made in 1955.

In 1957, he was a part of the inaugural game at Lambeau Field, then known as City Stadium, contributing to an upset of the Chicago Bears 21–17, before a crowd of 32,132 people.

[6] On May 12, 1960, he was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after being out of football for two years, while coaching at University Military School in Mobile, Alabama.

[8] Cone died of complications from a broken hip in Seneca, South Carolina, on December 31, 2021, at the age of 95.