LSU star Harold Perkins on whether there was SEC chatter during Texas visit in June 2021 - “It was a topic that was brought up”
In June 2021, five-star linebacker Harold Perkins, a top target for the Texas A&M 2022 recruiting class, made an official visit to the university. During this visit, discussions about the possibility of Texas joining the Southeastern Conference (SEC) were already taking place.
The Longhorns' transition from the Big 12 Conference to the SEC was made official on July 1, 2024, upon the facilitation of an early exit arrangement in 2023 that pushed their timetable from the previously expected 2025.
Perkins, who eventually committed to LSU after de-committing from Texas A&M, shed light on these early discussions during his SEC media day interview. When asked about his visit to Texas and whether he could envision their transition to the SEC, he responded:
"Yeah, I could believe it. When I was there, when I took my official visit there, that was a topic that was brought up. So it's not a surprise to me."
Harold Perkins was awarded Freshman All-SEC honors and was chosen for Percy E. Roberts Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Additionally, he continued to amaze with his performance, qualifying him for the Second-Team All-SEC with 26 tackles for a loss of 13 sacks in the 27 games he played.
Harold Perkins poised for a comeback after a position change and weight gain
After a stellar freshman season with 72 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and an interception, Harold Perkins experienced a dip in production in 2023 due to a position change from edge rusher to middle linebacker. This shift, which involved significant adjustments, saw Perkins' performance decline.
Defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Blake Baker is expected to help Perkins progress further. Baker, who coached LSU's linebackers in 2021, played a crucial role in developing players like Damone Clark.
Transitioning from outside to middle linebacker required Perkins to bulk up to 225 pounds, a notable increase from his previous 210 pounds.
"You can't play inside linebacker at 210 pounds," said LSU head coach Brian Kelly.
Kelly's decision to bring Harold Perkins to SEC Media Days highlights his importance to the team.
"I brought him here because I wanted you to see him outside of football. His versatility will be important to what we do on defense," Kelly said.
Now working with veteran Greg Penn and benefiting from Baker's expertise, Harold Perkins is more physically and mentally prepared.
"It wasn’t hard [to make that adjustment]. If you’re a dog, you’re a dog. You have to add on to the mental side, but it’s a mindset thing. You have to use your hands more on the inside, but I actually love playing on the inside. You can’t run away from [me] when I’m on the inside," Perkins said. [via Death Valley Voice].
Entering what is likely his final season at LSU, Harold Perkins is determined to make a significant impact.