Brian Kelly explains decision to move Harold Perkins back to inside linebacker

Harold Perkins will play inside linebacker for LSU next season, according to a report from The Advocate in Baton Rouge. It marks a return to the position for Perkins after he began 2023 in that spot.

However, Perkins played only the season opener at inside linebacker before being moved to the outside for the remainder of the the year. The Tigers still believe he has what it takes to excel inside, and he will begin spring practice next week playing there.

“He needs to be in the action,” Kelly said. “He needs to be the (weakside) linebacker. He needs to be in the box. He needs to be active in there. That’s where he’s going to start, and we’ve got to get him ready at that position.”

Harold Perkins struggled in his lone game at inside linebacker last season as LSU fell 45-24 to Florida State. He struggled to shed blockers as the Seminoles handled him the seven times he rushed off the edge. He finished with five tackles and did not record a sack of quarterback hurry.

Perkins still went on to have a solid sophomore season to record 75 total tackles (13 for loss), 5.5 sacks, an interception and three forced fumbles. Now Kelly wants to give him another chance to lock down the inside linebacker spot, where he believes Perkins has the best chance to play in the NFL.

“We felt like we could manage it better with him there,” Kelly said. “We don’t want to manage it. We want to get him in a position where he can impact the defense, where he will play at the next level. I think we owe it to him.”

LSU hired a new defensive coordinator this offseason in Blake Baker. The former Missouri DC helped develop Ty’Ron Hopper into a Butkus Award finalist this past season and the hope is he can provide similar help to Perkins.

Perkins saw some snaps in coverage this past season and should be expected to continue to do so with his move to the inside. Missouri finished top 20 nationally in both sacks (39) and tackles for loss (88) in 2023, so there is belief he can take a step forward there under Baker as well.

Either way, the 2024 season will once again begin with Perkins at inside linebacker, and the goal this time is for him to finish there as well.

“Whether it was scheme or whether it was our inability to get him to where we wanted him, he needs to be more involved in the linebacker fits inside,” Kelly said. “That’s going to get him ready for the next level. It’s going to make us a better defense.”