Pervis Atkins

Pervis R. Atkins Jr. (November 24, 1935 – December 22, 2017) was an American football player and actor.

A collegiate star with New Mexico State University, Atkins still holds team records as a running back and punt returner for the Aggies' football squad. He later played professionally with the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins of the National Football League and the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League, retiring after the 1966 AFL season.

In 2009, Atkins was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

Early life

Atkins was born in Ruston, Louisiana, and raised in Oakland, California. He graduated from Oakland Technical High School in 1953. He is a member of the Oakland Tech Hall of Honor. He was teammates on Oakland Tech’s championship football team with future NFL quarterback John Brodie and future NFL lineman Proverb Jacobs.

College Atkins attended Santa Ana Junior College where he was a multidisciplinary contributor to the school's track and field team, participating at a high level in the 100-yard dash, 220-yard dash, pole vault, high jump, and discus. He joined the Dons' football team for the 1958 season, scoring two touchdowns in the team's conference opener — once on a 10-yard rush and the other on a 60-yard interception return. Atkins hit for a 65-yard touch down run in one game, followed by a three touchdown effort in the next, leading the Dons to an undefeated start and sixth place in the National Junior College rankings.

He enrolled at New Mexico State University for the 1959 season, seeing time as halfback, flanker, and placekicker. He led the team to an 11–0 record and the Border Conference title. He was the first New Mexico State University football player to be named to the Associated Press All-America first team. He was selected All-Border Conference in 1959-60. yards per carry (7.5), rushing touchdowns (13), touchdowns (16), total points (107

In 1960, Atkins gained 611 rushing yards in only 65 attempts (a 9.4 yards per carry average), and 468 yards receiving on 26 catches (18 yards per catch). He averaged 11.9 yards per play from scrimmage. He scored two rushing touchdowns and six receiving touchdowns. He was ninth in Heisman Trophy voting that year.

Atkins led the nation in all-purpose yards in both 1959 and 1960. He also caught a touchdown pass in the 1960 Sun Bowl, a 20–13 New Mexico State victory. Both passes were thrown by future NFL 15-year quarterback Charley Johnson. Atkins also participated in the College All Star Game in 1961. He was inducted into the New Mexico State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1970. New Mexico State retired his number 27. In 2014, New Mexico State began presenting the annual Pervis Atkins Spirit Award.

Professional football Atkins was drafted in the third round of the 1960 NFL draft, the 30th pick overall by the Los Angeles Rams. His rookie campaign was spent backing up the Rams' star halfback Ollie Matson. He was sparingly used in his rookie campaign as a receiver out of the backfield, catching five balls for a total of 67 yards during the 1961 NFL season.

Atkins' aptitude catching the football, combined with his sprinter's speed (he had run 9.6 seconds for the 100 yard dash on multiple occasions as a track athlete),

Year Title Role Notes1974 The Longest Yard Mawabe

Death On December 22, 2017, Atkins died in the Los Angeles area. He had been in an assisted-living facility and had suffered from dementia. He was 82 years old.