LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State head football coach Doug Martin named Malik Demby and Ron LaForce as the winners of the fourth annual Pervis Atkins Spirit Award on Thursday. The award was created to honor former NM State great and College Football Hall of Famer Pervis Atkins, who played for the 1960 undefeated Aggies.
This award was created by Charlie Rogers, a close friend of the Atkins' family, and his former New Mexico State teammates. The 2017 award recipients were selected by Martin and his coaching staff based on the characteristics that Atkins exemplified while he was an Aggie, including leadership and being a champion on and off the field.