As Harold Perkins approaches his sophomore year at LSU, he is receiving considerable acclaim for his remarkable performance and the boundless potential recognized by numerous coaches and scouts.
On3's Charles Power highlighted that Harold Perkins was a disruptive force throughout his freshman season at LSU and has the potential for a remarkable leap in performance after an impressive breakout year. Considering that Perkins, a freshman at the time, was likely relying on instinct and improvisation, could now emerge as a strong contender for the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023, is quite impressive
Max Chadwick of PFF drew a comparison between Harold Perkins and the renowned Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons, emphasizing the defensive adaptability exhibited by these two linebackers.
Similar to Parsons, Perkins initially joined college as a middle linebacker. However, last year, LSU strategically deployed Perkins in various positions, particularly as a pass rusher, aiming to expand his involvement and impact on the field.
Parsons experienced a similar path in the NFL with the Cowboys, ultimately leading him to declare himself as a dedicated edge defender. However, this upcoming season, Perkins won't follow the same path. LSU's defensive coordinator, Matt House, and the coaching staff have indicated that Perkins will primarily focus on training with the conventional linebackers, devoting the majority of his time to that position.
During pass rush situations, Perkins will collaborate with outside linebackers coach John Jancek, specifically focusing on the JACK linebackers role where he will be prioritizing his pass rush performance.
According to PFF, Perkins attained the fifth-highest pass rush grade among all Power 5 defenders in the previous year. Moreover, among SEC linebackers, he led the conference with an impressive count of 41 pressures.
