Nick Saban defends use of Harold Perkins in 2023, expects improvement in 2024

Harold Perkins has been one of the most talented defensive players in the SEC since he stepped foot in the league, but in 2024, it’s time for him to take that next leap.

Perkins didn’t explode quite as folks had hoped in 2023, and some blame was shifted to the coaching staff for how he was deployed on an LSU defense that was abysmal across the board. However, at SEC Media Days, a pair of former Alabama guys, Nick Saban and Greg McElroy, took up for Brian Kelly and how Perkins was utilized, despite the defensive results as a whole.

“Well, I think the way they used him last year, nobody should criticize,” said Saban on the SEC Network set, explaining the thinking behind Kelly’s decision to use him as he did.

“He was a little undersized, so they kind of played him at outside backer, star. They blitzed him a lot, rushed him a lot, he caused a lot of problems,” Saban detailed of Perkins.

“Now they’re going to move him inside now that he’s gotten a little bigger — so he’s going to be involved in all plays, which is probably a good thing — and may be his natural position at the next level,” he added.

McElroy came to the defense of the Tiger coaches, and believes the revamped version of the defensive staff will have Perkins playing his best ball.

“I think, too, everyone last year was critical and saying ‘well, just have him rush the passer, have him rush the passer.’ That’s great, but what percentage of downs in football are obvious passing downs where you’re worried about one thing: getting to the quarterback? He was a liability at the line of scrimmage against the run, like, you had to move him somewhere.”

Like Saban, Greg McElroy notes Perkins’ improved size as reason to believe the rising junior can be more impactful in 2024. “And now with the added weight and how Blake Baker will disguise and feature him, it’s going to be really beneficial,” says McElroy.

In two full seasons of play, Harold Perkins has put up some monster stats, including 70+ tackles in 2022 and 2023, 7.5 sacks as a true freshman and 5.5 more in 2023, plus SEVEN forced fumbles already. He also has 26 total tackles for loss and two interceptions, filling up the stat sheet across the board.

Saban and McElroy only think those numbers will improve this fall.