LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. is anticipated to overlook the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL within the Tigers’ 34-17 win towards UCLA on Saturday, a supply with data of the state of affairs confirmed to The Athletic.
It’s an enormous blow for LSU and for Perkins, a former five-star recruit who’s No. 20 on Dane Brugler’s Massive Board for the 2025 NFL Draft. 247Sports first reported the extent of Perkins’ harm.
Perkins lit up faculty soccer as a freshman pass-rusher in 2022, breaking onto the scene with 7.5 complete sacks. He moved to linebacker final yr with combined outcomes, although he as soon as once more ended with respectable counting stats: 13 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Perkins beefed up within the offseason to round 225 kilos to play weakside linebacker, and the junior was awarded the legendary No. 7 jersey in fall camp. He moved to strongside linebacker earlier than the South Carolina recreation. Perkins had 17 tackles by means of 4 video games this yr.
Head coach Brian Kelly stated after Saturday’s recreation that LSU’s protection must alter with out Perkins.
“We’ve obtained numerous choices there,” Kelly stated. “We hope he’s OK. We hope he’s again for us. However we’ll be capable to transfer into different packages that resemble what we’re doing.”
LSU, 3-1, has already confronted season-ending accidents to working again John Emery Jr. and defensive sort out Jacobian Guillory. — Vannini
What this implies for his Draft future
One of many prime athletes in all of faculty soccer, Perkins was thought of a possible top-25 decide within the 2025 NFL Draft class previous to his harm.
Although his finest highlights got here when he was speeding the passer, he’s considered as extra of an off-ball linebacker on the subsequent stage on account of his dimension (6-foot-0, 220 kilos).
Even with the place debate, Perkins was anticipated to land in Spherical 1, largely due to his pace (one scout stated Perkins would check within the 4.3s on the mix), though a fall into Day Two is now doubtless if he declares. Nonetheless, a possible return to Baton Rouge for the 2025 season shouldn’t be dominated out both. On this planet of NIL, it’s a extra life like possibility for a participant like Perkins, who may receives a commission subsequent season whereas rebuilding his draft inventory. — Brugler
(Photograph: Stephen Lew / Imagn Photographs)
