Jeff Atkins (American football)

Jeff Atkins (born April 7, 1964) is a former American football running back.[1]

Atkins grew up in the Butler housing project in Fort Worth, Texas.[2] He attended Fort Worth's Eastern Hills High School. As a senior, he rushed for 2,333 yards and scored 25 touchdowns. He was the No. 1 recruit from Texas.[3] He rushed for 310 and 329 yards in individual games and was later described as "the most celebrated player in the history of Fort Worth high school football."[2]

He played college football as a tailback for the SMU Mustangs from 1983 to 1986, tallying 3,260 rushing yards and scoring 31 touchdowns.[4] He set an SMU freshman record with 218 rushing yards against Rice.[2] He also broke Earl Campbell's Southwest Conference freshman rushing record.[5]

He was not selected in the NFL draft and tried out, unsuccessfully, with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1987.[2][6] He attempted a comeback and played in several games for the Dallas Texans of the Arena Football League during the 1991 season.[7][8]

References
  1. "Jeff Atkins NFL Stats and Bio". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  2. "From football star to addicted inmate: Atkins was can't-miss player who did". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. April 12, 2001. pp. 1A, 14A – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Recruiting: It can be a dilemma or dream". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. January 30, 1983. p. 4B – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Jeff Atkins". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  5. "Tale of Two Backs: No. 1 recruit in '83, Atkins makes last run". The Dallas Morning News. September 10, 1986.
  6. "RB Atkins Signs Deal with CFL Winnipeg". The Dallas Morning News. May 13, 1987.
  7. "Jeff Atkins - ArenaFan.com". www.arenafan.com.
  8. "Texans' Camp Draws a Cast of Characters: Ex-SMU back Atkins travels comeback road". Dallas Morning News. April 7, 1991.
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