Brian Kelly 'excited' by what LSU has done with Harold Perkins
Harold Perkins Jr. was fantastic in his freshman season at LSU. He showed out early and never lost steam as he showed tons of potential at linebacker for the Tiger defense. Now, with him heading into his sophomore season, Brian Kelly is pumped for all the different ways they can continue to use him.
Kelly shared his excitement for the next step of Perkins’ development in an appearance on ‘The Paul Finebaum Show’. He said his production last year was more so instinctual for a young player who excelled in what little they gave him at times at linebacker. With DC Matt House and Perkins going into their second year together, though, he feels that they can get creative in how they deploy the former five-star.
“I’m excited about what Matt House has been able to do with him, even this spring,” said Kelly. “We’ve put him in a position now where I think we kind of drew some things up on the sand for him last year just to utilize, a young player that is so gifted. And now he is in a structured situation relative to playing a particular position, the Will linebacker position. But we can do a lot of things with him.”
“I think his growth, relative to a football player, recognizing what we can do now? With a guy that is going to be playing that position? (It’s) going to be fun,” Kelly said. “It’s going to be exciting.”
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Perkins posted 72 tackles last season, which was third on the team. He also led LSU in sacks with 7.5 and forced fumbles with three. He also deflected four passes and picked one off for an interception against Auburn. Long story short, he was a menace defensively just as a true freshman in Baton Rouge.
From what Kelly says here, though, there are still some more levels that Perkins can get to. That will continue to come as he grows both as a player and as a piece of their defense. That’s both great news for an LSU defense that finished Top-35 in the country a year ago while also being bad news for everyone else as he finds all-new ways to wreak havoc upon offenses.