Margene Adkins

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Margene Adkins (born April 30, 1947) is a former American football player who appeared as a wide receiver and return specialist in the CFL, NFL, and WFL. He played for the Ottawa Rough Riders, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, and the Chicago Winds.

Early life and college
He grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, and attended Kirkpatrick High School, where he played basketball before focusing on football. He played college football at Henderson County Junior College in Athens, Texas (and briefly attended Wichita University). He also played in the Junior Rose Bowl twice.

CFL career
Adkins started in the Canadian Football League with the Ottawa Rough Riders (1967–1969). He helped Ottawa win the Grey Cup in 1968 and 1969, including a key 70-yard touchdown in the 1968 victory over Calgary. He was a CFL All-Star in 1969 and earned two CFL East All-Star selections (1967, 1969).

NFL career
The Dallas Cowboys selected him in the second round of the 1970 NFL Draft (49th overall). He was mainly a punt and kickoff returner for Dallas in 1970 and 1971. He earned a Super Bowl VI ring with the Cowboys, even though he wasn’t on the active roster for the game.

In 1972, Adkins was traded to the New Orleans Saints, where he led the NFL in kickoff returns with 1,020 yards and a 23.7-yard average, despite playing through an ankle injury. In June 1973, he was traded to the New York Jets. With the Jets, he started five games in 1973, recording 109 receiving yards on six receptions. A knee injury in the 1974 offseason limited him, and he was released before the 1975 season.

WFL and later career
In 1975, Adkins joined the Chicago Winds of the World Football League, catching 12 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown before the team folded. He was selected by the San Antonio Wings in the Winds dispersal draft but did not play for them.

After football
Adkins worked as a firefighter for Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas. He is listed as 5 feet 10 inches tall and about 183 pounds.