Why Harold Perkins looms over defensive coordinator hire

Last season, Harold Perkins emerged as one of the top defensive players in college football. He was a first team All-SEC selection as a true freshman and looked like he could be a centerpiece of the LSU defense during his time in Baton Rouge.

Things didn’t go as well in 2023, though, as LSU’s defense struggled mightily. That led to the departure of Matt House and the rest of the defensive staff on Wednesday, leading to a cryptic response from Perkins on social media. Basically, the post meant “the tables have turned.”

But it’s part of a larger conversation around replacing House. Will Perkins play a role in the hire? Based on how quiet Perkins was — even though he was still a second team all-conference selection — The Bengal Tiger’s Shea Dixon wondered how Brian Kelly would use the star linebacker as the key to the unit.

“I think that there is the reality that in these two seasons, how Harold Perkins was used a year ago and how he was used this year was so wildly different that I got halfway through the Wisconsin game, Harold Perkins made a tackle, I was like, I forgot he was on the team,” Dixon told Andy Staples on On3 Roundtable. “And this is a guy, a year ago, that were like, this is the best player in college football on defense.

“So I almost feel like in halfway joking, halfway serious, as Brian Kelly goes through whomever he has in mind for DC, when you ask about what type of coach they are, is one of your first questions, ‘How do you use a guy like Harold Perkins? Explain to me how you use a Harold Perkins.'”

Perkins put up solid numbers in 2023 — totaling 75 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. That came after he had 7.5 sacks a year ago, in addition to his 72 tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss, and it seemed like he played more in coverage this time around.

Still, Perkins was one of the lone bright spots on the LSU defense this year. The Tigers allowed 416.6 yards per game, which ranked 13th in the SEC, and they gave up 35 points five times in their 13 games. That ultimately led Kelly to part ways with House on Wednesday, meaning he’ll have to replace both coordinators after OC Mike Denbrock opted to return to Notre Dame.