Pro Football Focus (PFF) released their Top 10 returning players at every position and LSU’s Harold Perkins is one of the top returning linebackers for the 2023 season. Perkins finds himself at No. 2 on the list after a dominant freshman campaign for the Tiger defense. He would live up to the hype coming out of high school being regarded as one of the top prospects in the Class of 2022. Hear from PFF on their reasoning for Perkins being one of the top returning linebackers for the upcoming college football season:
“Perkins was a Top-10 recruit in the Class of 2022, which may have been too low. As a true freshman, he led all Power-Five linebackers with a 91.0 pass-rushing grade. He ranked second among all linebackers in the country with 18 quarterback knockdowns (sacks/hits) and was tied for second in the country with four forced fumbles. Perkins is Micah Parson-esque in that he can play either linebacker or edge defender at a very high level.”
Harold Perkins’ Sensational Freshman Season:
Perkins ranks just behind Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. on PFF’s Top 10 returning linebackers for the 2023 season. He has established himself as a gifted playmaker and can be disruptive at the linebacker position. Once he stepped on the field for LSU, he would be a difference maker and would make it hard for opposing offenses to have success against him.
The New Orleans native would waste little time making an impact for the Tiger defense in his freshman season as he was named SEC Player of the Week twice for his performance against Arkansas and Alabama. In the win against Alabama, Perkins registered eight total tackles, one sack and one pass deflection. Perkins would single-handedly win the game for LSU over Arkansas as he would go on to record eight total tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and one pass deflection.
His accolades would continue throughout the season as he was named National Defensive Player of the Week for his play against Arkansas. He would also take home SEC Freshman of the Year honors after the Ole Miss game. On the year, Perkins would lead the Tigers in sacks (7.5), tackles for loss (13.0) and quarterback pressures (14). He would finish third on the team with 72 total tackles on the year.
Perkins earned first team All-SEC honors after the season ended and was named to the Freshman All-SEC team. He was a standout for the Tigers during his freshman season and will be one of the best defensive players to return to the college football landscape in 2023.
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