By Hunt Palmer
College football’s highs happen in public.
Its lows can come in a lonely place. That was the case for LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. when an ACL tear sidelined him in September of last season.
“I feel like the most challenging part of my injury was when it first happened and a few weeks after,” Perkins said. “That was my first time I felt like I was in a dark place. I never had to go get put on a table and get cut open before. That was really my first time.”
While Perkins spent his weeks in the training room and Saturdays on the sidelines, his teammates struggled, especially against mobile quarterbacks. Perkins made a name for himself corralling those very signal callers as a freshman.
His coming out party came in Fayetteville when he smothered speedy Razorback reserve quarterback Malik Hornsby for three sacks, two forced fumbles and another hurry. That season he also helped spy Alabama’s Bryce Young in LSU’s signature win of the season.
Perkins’s size and speed allow him to run with just about any offensive weapon. Without his presence on the field, LSU couldn’t find an answer for Jalen Milroe or Marcel Reed. Those two quarterbacks combined to run for 247 yards and seven touchdowns in the two losses that derailed LSU’s season.
“It was hard because I knew if I had been out there, it would have been different,” Perkins said “I love the game. That was the main reason it was hard for me, because I couldn’t do what I love to do.”
Perkins attacked his rehab and recovered from his first surgery to be cleared for summer workouts. The latter stages of that recovery were alongside Whit Weeks, his partner at linebacker, who broke his leg and dislocated his ankle in the bowl game.
The two grew closer as they worked toward what is likely their final season at LSU.
It felt like both of our backs were against the wall,” Perkins said. “It just helped us become closer and lean on each other more. On and off the field, that’s my brother. Everybody in the locker room is my brother, but as far as Whit goes, I feel like it’s something special. I make a play, I know he’s going to be the first one to come to me and turn me up. Vice versa. I’m excited to see what he’s going to do this year. I know he’s excited to see me do my thing, too.”
Perkins’s “thing” has changed over the years. He created havoc on the line of scrimmage as a freshman, but his role evolved. And his production has dipped with it. In 2023, Perkins moved inside to linebacker, but he spent a lot of time catching blocks and being caught in the wash.
The move made sense to most. At 220 pounds, a role on the defensive line won’t work in the NFL. At LSU, goal No. 1 is winning games, but development for the next level has to be considered.
With some time to sit and think, Perkins asked Defensive Coordinator Blake Baker if he could move to the STAR position. Baker obliged.
“I feel like it just allows me to be more versatile,” Perkins said. “Not saying that being in the box doesn’t, but I like to run around. I like to show my versatility. I like to have fun. I need me a pick. I can do that from inside, too, but I like to show my versatility.”
Perkins has been flying around the field in fall camp, running down ball carriers in the flat and rushing up the field in passing situations.
He’s playing different roles, but this time around he’s more sure of himself. It’s never been about agility or ability. It’s always been about assignment.
“The only challenging part of it was just knowing what you’re doing,” Perkins said. “Obviously, you can be here, or you can be there. These two jobs are two different spots. You’re doing two different things, so really just categorizing what I’m doing and where I’m supposed to be. I’ve played a lot of football in college. I’ve adjusted to the game a lot. I know the game a lot, and just being out there, it’s way easier than it was my freshman year.”
Perkins’s knee is healthy. He’s moving quickly. He’s confident and comfortable.
If LSU’s defense is going to take the strides to become among the best in the country, Perkins will have to be at the metaphorical center of that.
Weeks, who spent all those hours with him in the training room in spring, sees it.
“Me and him got to spend a lot of time together in January, February, March, but he obviously was way far ahead of me,” Weeks said. “He’s been 100 percent for months now, and he looks like Harold Perkins.”
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