Harold Perkins breaks down what success looks like for him in 2024

It’s no secret that when it came to the LSU Tigers last season offense stole the show while their defense held the team back. Averaging more points and yards per game than any team in the country while Vanderbilt ‘s defense was the only unit that allowed more yards per game in the SEC. Giving up over 40 points in each of their three losses to end the season 10-3 in their second season under Brian Kelly .

Linebacker Harold Perkins is LSU’s most impactful defensive player and will look to help lead the Tigers back to dominance on that side of the ball. But at SEC Media Days in Dallas on Monday, he spoke on what success will look like for him ahead of his junior year in Baton Rouge.

“Just knowing that everything’s not going to be perfect, everything’s not gonna pan out and play out the way you want it to, and just be ready to play adversity,” Perkins said. “Be ready to deal with and not running from it, I would say that.”

One of the biggest storylines of LSU’s defense last year was Perkins switching positions, serving as an edge rusher in his breakout true freshman season for the Tigers before switching to inside linebacker. A role that even Kelly even admitted didn’t get the most out of his star defender last season.

“Well certainly we didn’t maximize Harold last year, and that’s not, again, a knock on Harold or the coaches,” Kelly told On3’s JD PicKell . “But the reality of it is he’s an elite athlete that we have to get on track this year. Both Harold has got to play better and our coaches have to get him involved more.”

Perkins will return to his inside linebacker position this upcoming season, as new defensive coordinator Blake Baker will be tasked with maximizing the 6-foot-1, 220-pound defender who’s one of the best overall athletes in the country. Who also has apparently put on more weight this offseason to hold up better in the box after some struggles last season.

From a production standpoint, Perkins’ freshman and sophomore seasons were virtually identical, recording 72 tackles as a freshman and 74 with four defended passes, three forced fumbles, and an interception apiece in the past two seasons. But the eye test would say otherwise.

His pass-rushing prowess was on full display in his freshman season with 7.5 sacks, which dropped to 5.5 last season. But whether the versatile Perkins is blitzing the quarterback, playing in coverage, or dedicated to the run game, facing adversity head-on is how he hopes to help the LSU defense bounce back this upcoming season.

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