The Giants have a whole lot of running backs, and they added another Saturday when they selected UCLA’s Paul Perkins, who has been described as a “poor man’s Tiki Barber.’’
That sounds pretty sweet to Perkins.
“Tiki Barber’s not a bad guy to get compared to,’’ Perkins said moments after he was picked by the Giants in the fifth round of the NFL Draft . “I did idolize him growing up.’’
Perkins, at 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, is bigger than Barber. Like the Giants’ all-time rushing leader, Perkins is highly skilled as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. He is UCLA’s all-time leading receiver for a running back and finished his career with 80 receptions. He rushed for 1,618 yards as a sophomore and 1,394 yards as a junior. Most scouts view him as a third-down back in the NFL, but Perkins believes he can be more than that.
“I think I can do it all,’’ he said.
Perkins said he only talked to the Giants once – last week – and was almost speechless moments after the Giants took him with the 149th overall pick. He joins a crowded running back room that includes Rashad Jennings, Shane Vereen, Andre Williams, Orleans Darkwa and newly signed Bobby Rainey.
Perkins has some serious NFL bloodlines. His father, Bruce, played for the Buccaneers and Colts as a fullback. His uncle, Don Perkins, was the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1961, made six Pro Bowls and is a member of the Cowboys Ring of Honor.