Donald Richard Deskins Jr. (May 10, 1932 – February 26, 2013) was an American professor of urban geography and sociology and a former American football player.

[1] He was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1932 and attended Westbury High School.

He served in the United States Marine Corps before enrolling at the University of Michigan in 1957.

During his undergraduate study at Michigan, Deskins played college football as a tackle for the Michigan Wolverines football teams in 1958 and 1959.

[2][3] After receiving his bachelor's degree in 1960, he played professional football for the Oakland Raiders in their inaugural season in the American Football League.