Paul Perkins

Paul Perkins

Perkins scoring against California in 2014
No. 28 New York Giants
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1994-11-16) November 16, 1994 (age 22)
Place of birth:	Mesa, Arizona
Height:	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:	208 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school:	Chandler (AZ)
College:	UCLA
NFL Draft:	2016 / Round: 5 / Pick: 149
Career history
New York Giants (2016–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Second-team All-Pac-12 (2015)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 16, 2016
Rushing yards: 354 Rushing average: 3.9 Rushing touchdowns: 0 Receptions: 15 Receiving yards: 162 Receiving touchdowns: 0 Player stats at NFL.com

Paul Kerry Perkins II (born November 16, 1994) is an American football running back for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, leading the Pac-12 Conference in rushing as a sophomore in 2014. He earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors the following year.

Perkins attended Chandler High School in Chandler, Arizona, where he was teammates with his childhood friend and future college teammate Brett Hundley. As a senior, Perkins was named first-team all-state after rushing for 1,297 yards and 20 touchdowns. He was also the most valuable player (MVP) of the track team, which won the state title.

Considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, he was rated as the 40th best athlete prospect of his class. On December 4, 2011, he committed to UCLA over offers from Fresno State and Northwestern.

Perkins redshirted as a true freshman in 2012. In 2013, he became the Bruins' primary rusher after starter Jordon James sprained his ankle. Perkins started four games, and rushed for 573 yards on 134 carries (4.3 avg) and six touchdowns. He also caught 24 passes for 296 yards. In 2014, he worked his way into a pivotal role in the offense. As a backup to James in the season opener, Perkins ran for 80 yards. He later became the team's starter. With starting quarterback Hundley exiting in the first quarter after an injury, Perkins gained 195 all-purpose yards in a 20–17 win over Texas. In the Alamo Bowl, he was named the game's offensive MVP after running for a then-career-high 194 yards and scoring two touchdowns in a 40–35 win over Kansas State. He finished the season as the Pac-12 leader with 1,575 yards rushing, the second highest in UCLA history behind Johnathan Franklin (1,734 in 2012).