Two LSU Tigers Named To The Walter Camp Preseason All-America Teams

We are still several months away from the start of the 2023 college football season and with that comes preseason award watch lists. Two LSU Tigers were named to the Walter Camp Football Preseason All-America teams. Defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo and linebacker Harold Perkins are the lone Tigers to be on the list after a sensational 2022 campaign. Wingo is listed as a second-team preseason All-American and Perkins is listed as a first-team preseason All-American. Both Wingo and Perkins are looking to continue their momentum after they played a pivotal role in helping out LSU reach the 10-win mark during the 2022 season.

Harold Perkins Jr. and Mekhi Wingo are on the @WalterCampFF Preseason All-America Teams. pic.twitter.com/QQiNns0rVV

— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) March 31, 2023

Mekhi Wingo:

Wingo transferred in from Missouri before the start of the 2022 season and he would make an instant impact for LSU during his first season in Baton Rouge. Before coming to Baton Rouge, Wingo spent his freshman season at Missouri. During his true freshman season in 2021, Wingo recorded 27 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack. He would earn Freshman All-SEC honors for his performance on the field in 2021. In 2021, Wingo appeared in 11 games at Missouri, while starting in three games as a true freshman

Wingo decided to enter his name into the transfer portal after his freshman campaign and he would end up at LSU. The St. Louis, Missouri native would join a talented defensive line group that had a lot of expectations heading into the 2022 season. Wingo was expected to be a part of the rotation and be behind Maason Smith. Those plans would change after Smith suffered an injury on the first defensive drive of the season against Florida State.

Smith would be ruled out of the rest of the season due to a torn ACL, so Wingo would have to step up and fill Smith’s shoes. Wingo would be able to do just that as he showed that he is one of the best defensive tackles in the SEC. During the 2022 season, Wingo recorded 43 total tackles (24 solo tackles), three sacks, one fumble forced, two fumble recoveries and four passes defended. He was able to dominate the trenches in year one at LSU and would be named an AP All-American with the Tigers. Wingo was able to set the tone during the 2022 season and is set up for a bright future in Baton Rouge.

Harold Perkins:

Perkins quickly showed in his debut season at LSU that he is going to be the next in line to be one of the greatest linebackers in the program. He had a lot of expectations coming out of high school as he was the No. 4 rated linebacker in the Class of 2022. The New Orleans, Louisiana native would be disruptive on the defensive side of the ball and would impose his will at the linebacker spot.

Perkins wrapped up his freshman campaign as he registered 72 total tackles (39 solo tackles), 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one interception and four passes defended. He would be earn SEC Defensive Player of the Week twice for his performance against Arkansas and Alabama. Perkins earned first-team All-SEC honors and was named to the Freshman All-American team.

The talented linebacker would single-handedly win the game against the Razorbacks as he recorded eight tackles, three sacks, two fumbles forced, two fumble recoveries and one pass defended. His freshman season will only be the start of Perkins staking his claim as the best linebacker in college football heading into the 2023 season.

 

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