Matt House evaluates Harold Perkins coming off of dominant freshman season

LSU linebacker Harold Perkins was one of the best freshman in the country last year but Tigers defensive coordinator Matt House knows that he can continue to elevate his game.

One of the reasons for that is that House knows he has a better understanding of everything with a year of experience under his belt.

“I think the number one thing is he’s got a better understanding of our process and how we prepare,” House said during a spring practice press conference. “That’s the biggest thing. His habits are much more consistent…He just loves football. Really coachable.”

That seems to go in line with what head Brian Kelly told On3’s J.D. PicKell earlier this year.

Kelly said Perkins is a guy who takes care of himself off the field and does the right things.

“And Harold Perkins is a guy that took care of himself and was able to kind of slingshot himself later in the season into playing really good football as well,” Kelly said. The second point to that is Matt House did a great job of moving him around and putting him in positions to be successful. So, you know one you get great athletes, right? But two, you got to put them in positions to succeed. I think both of those things happened with Harold Perkins.”

Harold Perkins ranks as a top-10 player by On3 after freshman year

Harold Perkins enters the 2023 season with high expectations from many people.

On3 ranks Perkins as the No. 1 linebacker in the country and the No. 7 overall player heading into the 2023 season.

“If Maye was the best freshman in the country on offense, Perkins was on defense,” On3’s ranking blurb for Perkins read. “He had an absolutely massive impact as a true freshman and was a huge part of LSU winning the SEC West. Perkins might have helped the Tigers avoid an upset at Arkansas with a monster outing. He finished the year with 72 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, an interception and three pass breakups.”