Pervis Atkins

Atkins was born in Ruston, Louisiana,[1] and raised in Oakland, California.[2] He graduated from Oakland Technical High School in 1953.[3]

After attending Santa Ana Junior College,[4] he played college football at New Mexico State University,[1] where he was a halfback, flanker, and placekicker. In 1959, he became the first of four straight New Mexico State University players to lead the nation in rushing yardage with 130 carries for 971 yards. He was the first New Mexico State University football player to be named to the Associated Press All-America first team.[5]

In 1959, Atkins led the nation in yards per carry (7.5), total points (107), and yards per punt return (17.7). As of December 2017, he still held New Mexico State University's records for yards per carry for a career (8.1), punt return average for a career (15.1), and punt return average for a season (21. 8).[6]

He played professionally in the American Football League for the Oakland Raiders in 1965 and 1966. He had previously played for the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins. On April 30, 2009, Atkins was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.[7]

Also an actor and producer,[8] Atkins appeared in the 1974 feature film The Longest Yard,[1] the made-for-TV movie The Desperate Miles, and the 1976 pilot for the TV series Delvecchio, as well as a guest-starring role in an episode of The Six Million Dollar Man. He resided in Los Angeles until his death.[9]

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.[8]

• List of American Football League players
• List of NCAA major college football yearly rushing leaders
• List of NCAA major college football yearly scoring leaders
• List of NCAA major college yearly punt and kickoff return leaders