Robert Archbald Watkins Jr. (March 30, 1932 – September 25, 2022) was a former
American football halfback who played
college football
College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States.
Unlike most ...
at
Ohio State University and professionally in the
National Football League (NFL).
Ohio State
Watkins was one of the first
African American running backs at the
Ohio State University. He
lettered from 1952 through 1954 and was one of the first
recruits of legendary Ohio State football
coach Woody Hayes. Hayes shrugged off criticism by some bigoted alumni, insisting he would not consider recruits based on skin color. Watkins was Ohio State's leading rusher in 1953 and leading scorer during the
1954 national championship season.
NFL
Watkins was the 23rd selection in the
1955 NFL Draft
The 1955 NFL season, 1955 National Football League NFL draft, draft was held January 27–28, 1955 at the Warwick New York Hotel, Warwick Hotel in New York City.
This was the ninth year that the List of first overall National Football League Dra ...
. He played three years with the Bears before ending his career with the crosstown
Chicago Cardinals.
Professional life
Watkins formerly served as a vice president of Seagrams and Sons and is an expert on the American Civil War. He has been a guest speaker on many occasions including as the keynote speaker at the Plymouth Teaching American History Grant's culminating celebration.
He served as the Chair of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Blue Ribbon Commission on Athletics.
External links
NFL.com player page
1932 births
Living people
American football halfbacks
Chicago Bears players
Chicago Cardinals players
Ohio State Buckeyes football players
Sportspeople from New Bedford, Massachusetts
Players of American football from Bristol County, Massachusetts
African-American players of American football
21st-century African-American people
20th-century African-American sportspeople
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