Brian Kelly emphasizes importance of maximizing Harold Perkins in 2024

Following a freshman season that had many thinking he might be able to make a legitimate push at the Heisman Trophy, Harold Perkins had a relatively quiet sophomore season, at least by his lofty standards.

The LSU star just never quite seemed to click into high gear and dominate games the way he did against Arkansas in 2022.

LSU coach Brian Kelly has been blunt this offseason about the team’s use of Perkins and how woefully short they came up last year in getting him to the level he should be playing at.

“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 finished his sophomore season at LSU with 75 tackles, 13.0 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, an interception and six passes defended. For most players, that would be a terrific season.

For Perkins it was a reminder that even he needs to be put into the right spots to make plays.

LSU will focus Harold Perkins on playing inside linebacker this fall, after spending the majority of the 2023 season on the outside. Kelly revealed that to reporters recently.

With that in mind, the next couple months will be vital for Perkins.

“That’s an important piece of what we do in the spring,” Kelly said. “Certainly where he fits within our defensive structure is going to be job one for us. So again, I think that everybody that watched last year would say that’s a guy that needs to play at a higher level, and that starts with coaching and that starts with Harold really working hard in this offseason.”

Even in a season in which he didn’t maximize his potential, Perkins was named a second-team All-SEC selection by the league’s coaches.

The potential, though, is through the roof. And if LSU can maximize it, watch out. Everyone saw what Perkins can do when he’s flying around playing fast, as he did it as a freshman.

Now with two years of experience under his belt, Harold Perkins will get to work seeing if a position change back to something he’s a little more familiar with can pay dividends.