A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Perkins attended Dunbar High School in that city. He played football, basketball, baseball, and competed in the shot put at Dunbar High.[1] He then played college football at North Texas State in Denton, Texas.[2] In 1958, Perkins and Billy Christie became the first African-American athletes to integrate North Texas State on four-year athletic scholarships.[1] He was known by the nickname "Pearly".[1]
Professional football
Perkins was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams with the 44th pick in the 1962 NFL draft. He played for the Rams during the 1962 and 1963 seasons, appearing in 26 NFL games.[2] In his second year with the Rams, he was used principally as a blocking back.[3]
Perkins later played in the Canadian Football League for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1964–1966), and Edmonton Eskimos (1967–1969). He appeared in 74 CFL games, tallying 2,961 yards, 1,386 receiving yards, and scoring 29 touchdowns.[4] He was known as an excellent receiver who rarely missed a pass, catching 18 of 18 one year and 37 of 37 another.[3]
Coaching career
In 1972, Perkins returned to Los Angeles as offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Mustangs, a semiprofessional football team. After two seasons with the Mustangs, he was hired as an assistant football coach at Compton College under head coach Aaron Youngblood. Perkins succeeded Youngblood as Compton's head coach in 1978.[5][6]
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