#56 Perry Riley Season 2023
2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl Defensive MVP
2008 Butkus Award Finalist
CAREER
Two-year starter at outside linebacker for the Tigers in 2008 and 2009 … Played in 47 games, starting 22 times during his career … Followed up an outstanding season in 2008 with another great year in 2009 … Recorded 185 total tackles for his career, which included 13 tackles for losses and two sacks … Added eight pass breakups and a pair of interceptions … Highlight of career came in win over Georgia Tech in 2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl as he was named the defensive MVP of the contest in helping the Tigers to a 38-3 win … A finalist for the Butkus Award, which goes to the top linebacker in college football, in 2008.
SENIOR SEASON (2009)
Starter at Will linebacker for the Tigers for the second-straight year in 2009 … Started all 13 games and ranked second on team with 97 tackles, including 4.5 for losses … Recorded double-figure tackles in three games – 14 vs. Louisiana Tech, 12 vs. Florida and 11 vs. Mississippi State … Had eight tackles in games against Tulane, Alabama and Arkansas … Finished with seven tackles and a tackle for a 6-yard loss vs. Ole Miss … Sealed win over Georgia with an interception late in the fourth quarter … Added a QB hurry and two pass breakups against Florida … Forced a fumble to go with six tackles and one tackle for a 3-yard loss in season-opener against Washington.
JUNIOR SEASON (2008)
A finalist for the 2008 Butkus Award and Defensive MVP of the Chick-fil-A Bowl in his first year as a starter for the Tigers … Ranked among the team leaders in total tackles with 60, including 7.0 for losses and 1.5 sacks … Also credited with an interception, three pass breakups and three quarterback hurries … Played in all 13 games with nine starts … Delivered his most valuable performance in the Chick-fil-A Bowl win against Georgia Tech … Registered a team-high and career-best 11 tackles and had one tackle for a loss of a yard as the Tigers dominated Georgia Tech’s triple-option attack … Tremendous all-around play at Arkansas when he recorded three tackles, two tackles for losses, one sack and his first career interception … Returned the pick 17 yards, which led to a field goal at the end of the first half … It represented the first interception by an LSU linebacker since Darry Beckwith had one in the 2007 SEC Championship Game … Recorded four tackles and one quarterback hurry against Ole Miss … Finished with five total tackles and one quarterback hurry against Alabama … Had five tackles and one tackle for a loss against Tulane … Made four tackles against Georgia including 0.5 tackles for loss … Tallied two tackles and recovered a fumble – the first of his career – in come-from-behind win at South Carolina … Notched six tackles at Florida … Led the team in tackles against Mississippi State with nine, including 0.5 tackles for a loss … Tallied four tackles in his first career start at Auburn, including 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks for a loss of four yards … Also finished with one PBU against Auburn … Had three tackles, including 0.5 for a loss of one yard, versus North Texas … Credited with four tackles versus Appalachian State.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2007)
Played in all 14 of LSU’s games … Tallied 24 tackles, including 1.5 for losses and a half sack, to his credit … Recorded a team-high tying seven tackles against Louisiana Tech … Had five stops, including a half sack and a tackle for loss against Middle Tennessee … Was nearly as good against Virginia Tech, making four tackles … Recorded two solo tackles in the 2008 BCS National Championship Game versus Ohio State … Also a key contributor on the Tigers’ special teams units, he was credited with 14 tackles in that role.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2006)
Saw action in seven games as a true freshman … Was credited with four tackles, making two against Kentucky and one each versus Arizona and Mississippi State.
HIGH SCHOOL
Solid linebacker rated in the top three at his position in the state of Georgia … Versatile, athletic presence who also saw action at running back and strong safety … Formed arguably the nation’s most intimidating linebacking core with teammate Marcus Ball and LSU teammate Kelvin Sheppard … As a senior, recorded 131 tackles, four interceptions, two sacks, five tackles for loss and one defensive touchdown … Member of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Top 50 for Georgia and the Mobile Register Super Southeast 120 in 2005 … Racked up 96 tackles, eight sacks and five forced fumbles in 2004 … Coached by Ron Gartrell.
PERSONAL
Full name is Perry Alphonso Riley … Parents are Perry and Fonda Riley … Has two siblings, Jasmin and Jordan … Born May 3, 1988, in Atlanta, Ga. … Majoring in general studies with concentrations in African-American studies, communication studies and corrections.
CAREER HIGHS
Total tackles: 14 vs. La. Tech, 2009
Tackles for loss: 2 vs. Arkansas, 2008
Sacks: 1 vs. Arkansas, 2008
Interceptions: 1 vs. Arkansas, 2008
RILEY’S CAREER DEFENSIVE STATS
Year
PBU
QBH
INT
FF
2006
2007
2008
13-9
37
23
60
7.0-23
1.5-9
3
3
1-17
0
1-0
2009
13-13
40
57
97
4.5-13
0-0
5
2
1-0
1
1-0
Totals