Ray Perkins (football player)
Encyclopedia
Ray Perkins is an American football
running back
for the Miami Dolphins
of the National Football League
. He was originally signed by the San Diego Chargers
as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played collegiately for Southeastern Louisiana University
.
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
and was a standout in football and track
. In football and track, he won All-County and All-State honors. As a senior, Perkins rushed for 1,440 yards to break Dillard's single-season rushing record previously held by former Houston Oilers running back Lorenzo White
.
He went to the state track meet the last two years while he was in high school. His fastest times in the 100-meter and 200-meter were 10.51 seconds and 21.8 seconds, respectively. Perkins graduated from Dillard in 2000.
announced the signing of Perkins to play football for the Commodores. As a true freshman, Perkins was named a first team preseason All-Southeastern Conference
selection as a return specialist. He finished the season with 425 rushing yards and one touchdown
on 87 carries while leading the SEC in returns average and yards while also finishing 10th in the nation in kick off returns.
following expulsion from Vanderbilt. He sat out the 2001 season under NCAA transfer rules.
and redshirted the 2002 season. He left the team following the season and reasons for the departure remain unknown.
. There he rejoined former Vanderbilt head coach Woody Widenhofer, who was now the defensive coordinator at SELU. The 2003 season marked the first time SELU fielded a football team since the program was cut in 1985 for financial reasons.
Despite head coach Hal Mumme
's his high-powered passing attack, Perkins gained 741 yards on 155 attempts in 2003 while scoring six touchdowns. He also finished third on the team in receiving with 37 receptions for 199 yards.
In 2004, Perkins broke the 1,000-yard mark as a senior with 1,148 yards on 179 attempts. He also finished with 360 yards receiving and found the end zone a total of 13 times.
and subsequently signed with the San Diego Chargers on April 29. He was waived at the conclusion of the preseason on September 3 and added to the team's practice squad two days later, where he remained for the entire regular season.
minicamp from April 13-15 on a tryout basis. He was signed by the team on April 16, 2007 and was assigned No. 33, which had most recently been worn by running back Kay-Jay Harris
- now with the St. Louis Rams
- in training camp the previous two years. The move reunites Perkins with Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron
, who was offensive coordinator for the Chargers during Perkins' time there.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was originally signed by the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played collegiately for Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University is a state-funded public university in Hammond, Louisiana, United States. It was founded in 1925 by Linus A. Sims, the principal of Hammond High School, as Hammond Junior College, located in a wing of the high school building. Sims succeeded in getting the campus...
.
High school career
Perkins attended Dillard High SchoolDillard High School
Dillard High School is a historic public high school located in Fort Lauderdale of Broward County, Florida. Dillard is available to all of Broward County. This school was established in 1907...
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
and was a standout in football and track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. In football and track, he won All-County and All-State honors. As a senior, Perkins rushed for 1,440 yards to break Dillard's single-season rushing record previously held by former Houston Oilers running back Lorenzo White
Lorenzo White
Lorenzo Maurice White , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 1st round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He attended Dillard High School in Ft. Lauderdale in Florida. A 5 ft 11 in running back from Michigan State University, White played in 8...
.
He went to the state track meet the last two years while he was in high school. His fastest times in the 100-meter and 200-meter were 10.51 seconds and 21.8 seconds, respectively. Perkins graduated from Dillard in 2000.
Vanderbilt
On February 2, 2000 Vanderbilt football coach Woody WidenhoferWoody Widenhofer
-External links:* *...
announced the signing of Perkins to play football for the Commodores. As a true freshman, Perkins was named a first team preseason All-Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
selection as a return specialist. He finished the season with 425 rushing yards and one touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
on 87 carries while leading the SEC in returns average and yards while also finishing 10th in the nation in kick off returns.
Southeast Missouri State University
Perkins enrolled at Southeast Missouri State UniversitySoutheast Missouri State University
Southeast Missouri State University, is a public, accredited university located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States, near the banks of the Mississippi River. The institution, having started as a normal school, has a traditional strength in teacher education...
following expulsion from Vanderbilt. He sat out the 2001 season under NCAA transfer rules.
University of Iowa
Perkins committed to the University of IowaUniversity of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
and redshirted the 2002 season. He left the team following the season and reasons for the departure remain unknown.
Southeastern Louisiana University
Following his departure from Iowa, Perkins enrolled at Southeastern Louisiana UniversitySoutheastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University is a state-funded public university in Hammond, Louisiana, United States. It was founded in 1925 by Linus A. Sims, the principal of Hammond High School, as Hammond Junior College, located in a wing of the high school building. Sims succeeded in getting the campus...
. There he rejoined former Vanderbilt head coach Woody Widenhofer, who was now the defensive coordinator at SELU. The 2003 season marked the first time SELU fielded a football team since the program was cut in 1985 for financial reasons.
Despite head coach Hal Mumme
Hal Mumme
Hal Clay Mumme is an American college football coach. He is currently the head coach at McMurry University.- Playing career :...
's his high-powered passing attack, Perkins gained 741 yards on 155 attempts in 2003 while scoring six touchdowns. He also finished third on the team in receiving with 37 receptions for 199 yards.
In 2004, Perkins broke the 1,000-yard mark as a senior with 1,148 yards on 179 attempts. He also finished with 360 yards receiving and found the end zone a total of 13 times.
2005
Perkins went undrafted in the 2005 NFL Draft2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
and subsequently signed with the San Diego Chargers on April 29. He was waived at the conclusion of the preseason on September 3 and added to the team's practice squad two days later, where he remained for the entire regular season.
2006
Perkins was re-signed to a one-year contract by the Chargers on January 3, 2006. He was released by the team on September 2 and would once again spend the season on the team's practice squad.2007
Perkins attended a Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
minicamp from April 13-15 on a tryout basis. He was signed by the team on April 16, 2007 and was assigned No. 33, which had most recently been worn by running back Kay-Jay Harris
Kay-Jay Harris
Kevin Jermaine "Kay-Jay" Harris is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at West Virginia....
- now with the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
- in training camp the previous two years. The move reunites Perkins with Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron
Cam Cameron
-External links:...
, who was offensive coordinator for the Chargers during Perkins' time there.