The LSU Tigers expect to be competing for national championships year in and year out. Harold Perkins could be the key to making 2025 a championship season.
After having his 2024 season cut short due to an ACL injury, Perkins opted to return for 2025. Perkins received All-SEC recognition in 2022 and ’23, and Brian Kelly likes what he sees from Perkins so far heading into Year 4.
“He has complete knowledge of the linebacker position. He understands the game and baited (Garrett) Nussmeier into an interception. Physically, he’s been great. He’s a beast. He knows this is his year,” Kelly told reporters on Monday.
Perkins was a dynamic force in Baton Rouge as a freshman (2022) and sophomore (2023), posting 13 tackles for loss in each campaign. He combined for 13 sacks, 9 passes defended, 7 pass breakups and 2 interceptions across those seasons as well, demonstrating incredible versatility.
Kelly, Tigers feel pressure in 2025
Thus far, under Kelly, the Tigers have yet to compete for a national championship. Kelly guided the Tigers to an unexpected SEC Championship game appearance in 2022 — his first season at LSU’s helm. Kelly has failed to establish the Bayou Bengals as true national title contenders since then, despite that success. Unless things change quickly, he could find himself on an extremely hot seat sooner than later.
Kelly needs to take LSU to the College Football Playoff in 2025. To do that, he needs his stars on both sides of the football to play as such. There’s plenty of reason to be confident Garrett Nussmeier, one of the top prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft, will deliver the goods.
After his injury versus the Bruins, Kelly told reporters that Perkins was essentially “one of one” in the Tigers’ defense. If he’s able to return to form following nearly a year away from meaningful action, Kelly won’t have to concern himself with a warm chair. Fans will get their first taste of Perkins when LSU faces Clemson — in a de facto battle over the ‘Death Valley’ moniker — on Aug. 30.
