Pervis Atkins

American football player (1935–2017)

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.

Atkins was born in Ruston, Louisiana, and raised in Oakland, California. He graduated from Oakland Technical High School in 1953.

Atkins attended Santa Ana Junior College where he was a multidisciplinary star of 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 was an eagerly anticipated new addition to 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. An explosive offensive weapon, 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. That year 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. In 1959, Atkins led the nation in yards per carry (7.5), total points (107), and yards per punt return (17.7). As of the beginning of the 2023 season, he still held New Mexico State University's records for yards per carry for a career (8.1), punt return average for a season (21.8), and punt return average for a career (15.1). On April 30, 2009, Atkins was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

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.