HATTIESBURG Bunkie Perkins is a frustrated receiver trying hard to believe the choice he made to attend the University of Memphis was the right one.

Perkins, a former all-American at Hinds Community College, has just 13 catches in five games.

The ex-Vicksburg High star’s five-catch, 50-yard performance against Southern Mississippi on Saturday was his best this year, but he still has not found the end zone.

“They didn’t have any defensive backs that were capable of shutting us down,” Perkins said after the Tigers (3-2) lost 24-3. “We need to get some more confidence from our offensive coordinator. That’s why they recruited me.”

Perkins did haul in a 33-yard pass in the third quarter his longest of the season but still is averaging just over 20 yards per game. That’s a far cry from when he lit up juco defenders for more than 1,000 yards as the Eagles’ prime target. At Vicksburg and Hinds, he averaged more than 20 yards per catch.

“I am frustrated,” Perkins said with a sigh. “I pray at night to get past this adversity, and that is all this is adversity. It’s going to come. I just have to be patient.”

Despite the lack of catches, or even passes his way, Perkins refuses to think of his move from Hinds to Memphis as the wrong one. Marshall, a team that has gained prominence for its pass-happy system, was Perkins’ second choice.

“One thing I can’t do is regret my choice,” Perkins said. “I just have to make it work. I can’t look down and think what I should have done because then I’ll never get back up.”

About 60 relatives, most from Vicksburg, made the trip to Hattiesburg for the game.

Perkins said he has to try to be happy with his situation.

“That’s all I can do,” Perkins said. “I have no choice but to be happy because I chose Memphis.”