#4 Harold Perkins Jr. Season 2023
2022 First Team All-SEC (AP)
2022 Second Team All-SEC (Coaches)
2022 Freshman All-America (Football Writers Association of America, The Athletic, College Football News)
2022 True Freshman All-America (ESPN)
2022 Freshman All-SEC (Coaches)
2022 Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week vs. Arkansas
2022 SEC Defensive Player of the Week vs. Arkansas
2022 SEC Defensive Player of the Week vs. Alabama
2022 SEC Freshman of the Week vs. Ole Miss
2022 LSU Percy E. Roberts Defensive Player of the Year
2022 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll
All-around outstanding linebacker who terrorized opposing quarterbacks during his first year with the Tigers in 2022 … Will look to bring his game to the next level as a sophomore as an every-down player for the Tigers in 2023 … Had as big an impact on LSU’s 2022 SEC Western Division title as any player on the team … Proved to be a game-plan wreaker for opposing offenses as a true freshman … Played in all 14 games in 2022, starting 8 times … Earned conference honors from the SEC for 3 consecutive weeks – SEC Freshman of the Week vs. Ole Miss; SEC Defensive Player of the Week vs. Alabama and Arkansas … Named Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week vs. Arkansas … Finished true freshman season with 72 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks … A player who does everything really well on defense and yet is still learning to be a college linebacker … A year ago, made plays with sheer athleticism, tracking down quarterbacks in the backfield … Used the spring to continue his development as a college linebacker … Has all of the tools to take his game to the next level … Possesses tremendous speed, strength and instincts … Makes plays in the backfield and sideline to sideline … Difficult to block … Established himself both on the field and in the classroom during his first year on campus, earning SEC Academic Honor Roll distinction … Born in New Orleans, but family was forced to relocate to the Houston-area following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 … Calls New Orleans his hometown … Majoring in sports administration … Will wear No. 4 in 2023 after wearing No. 40 in 2022.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2022)
Arguably the top true freshman defender in school history … Played in all 14 games with 8 starts … Named first team All-SEC by the Associated Press and second team by the league’s coaches … Freshman All-America as well as being selected Freshman All-SEC … During a 3-week span, earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors vs. Ole Miss and then followed that with back-to-back SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors vs. Alabama and Arkansas … Finished year with 72 tackles and led LSU in tackles for loss (13.0) and sacks (7.5) … His 13 tackles for loss were the most among Power 5 freshmen … It also ranked No. 2 in the SEC … Had at least 1 tackle for loss in LSU’s final 7 games … Led all Power 5 freshman in sacks and finished third in the SEC … Had his breakthrough game in week 3 in win over Mississippi State with 6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss (-14) and 1.5 sacks (-13) … First start of career came following week against New Mexico (7 tackles) … Intercepted first pass of career in win over Auburn in week 5 … Interception came at LSU 10-yard line early in fourth quarter with LSU up 21-17 … Had a QB hurry on 3-and-14 on Auburn’s next possession that forced a punt … Had 5 solo tackles in road win over Florida … Earned his first SEC Freshman of the Week honors with 6 tackles, a sack for a 6-yard loss and 2 QB hurries in win over Ole Miss … Earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance in overtime win over Alabama (8 tackles, sack for 6-yard loss, 3 QB hurries) … Sack of Alabama QB Bryce Young came in second quarter on 3-and-5 at LSU 6-yard line that forced an Alabama field goal … Gained national attention with 8 tackles, including 3 sacks for 27-yards in losses and 2 forced fumbles in win over Arkansas … Earned National Player of the Week honors for his performance vs. Razorbacks … The 3 sacks were 1 shy of tying school record … Had 10 tackles, including 1.5 for losses, and forced a fumble vs. Georgia in SEC Championship Game … Closed season with 3 tackles, a sack for a 7-yard loss, and a forced fumble in Citrus Bowl win over Purdue.
HIGH SCHOOL
Outstanding linebacker rated No. 4 for the entire Class of 2022 by ESPN … Five-star prospect by ESPN and the website’s top-rated outside linebacker … Listed as the nation’s No. 8 overall prospect and the No. 2 linebacker in the 247Sports Composite rankings … Earned five stars by 247Sports … Given five stars and a No. 7 overall national ranking in the composite On3 list … On3 ranks him No. 1 at his position nationally and the No. 2 prospect in Texas … Rated four stars and the nation’s No. 33 overall prospect by Rivals.com … Graded No. 3 at his position nationally and No. 6 overall in the state of Texas … Also played running back in high school, earning first team All-Greater Houston as a utility player on offense … Participated in the Under Armour All-America Game … Originally from New Orleans, but played high school football at Cypress Park in Cypress, Texas … Played basketball in high school.
Harold Perkins’ Career Highs
Tackles: 10 vs. Georgia, 2022 SEC Championship Game
Tackles for Loss: 3.0 vs. Arkansas, 2022
Sacks: 3.0 vs. Arkansas, 2022
QB hurries: 3, 2x (Last: vs. Alabama, 2022; First: vs. Ole Miss, 2022)
Interceptions: 1 at Auburn, 2022
Pass Breakups: 1, 2x (Last: at Arkansas, 2022; First: vs. Alabama, 2022)
Forced Fumble: 2 at Arkansas, 2022
Fumble Recovery: 0