He would never letter in football with the Volunteers, after playing in just 2 games for the freshman team (freshmen were not eligible until 1972) and dropping out of college.
[2] As a rookie, he was being tried out at free safety and was moving up the depth chart, until getting into a fight with teammate Reggie Rucker, which caused him a broken jaw and lost time because of the injury.
Athas was signed as a free agent by the New York Giants in 1971, reuniting with defensive coordinator Jim Garrett, who was his head coach with the Orlando Panthers.
[5] he was named the starter at free safety,[6] until committing critical errors (two fumbled punts and an unsportsmanlike penalty) in a 23–7 loss against the Washington Redskins, which led to his surprising release on October 28.
On September 15, 1976, the New Orleans Saints signed him as a free agent, to use him as a punt returner and reserve cornerback, after Clarence Chapman was injured.