Roman Harper criticizes Harold Perkins preseason All-American selection: 'He didn't have a great year, last year'

The AP released their preseason All-American teams on Monday, with the SEC having 10 representatives on the first team. Just three of those were defensive players, one being LSU linebacker Harold Perkins. A big name in the sport since breaking out in 2022, not everybody is thrilled with the selection.

“Harold Perkins, he’s been really good at LSU,” SEC Network’s Roman Harper said Monday. “I don’t think he should be a preseason All-American. If we keep stats, numbers for a reason — he didn’t have a great year, last year. If you want to pick All-American based on potential, then why you keeping the stats and the numbers?

“And if we want to say that, then let’s say that. But let’s call a spade a spade. This man has the opportunity to be a postseason All-American but preseason, he should not be there.”

The numbers from Perkins in 2023 looked similar last season to what he did as a true freshman. He recorded 75 tackles, 13.0 tackles for a loss, and 5.5 sacks while forcing three fumbles, and recording five PBUs.

Another position change will be coming, though. Perkins began the year at inside linebacker against Florida State but really struggled in the opener. LSU moved their star player to outside linebacker for the rest of the year but head coach Brian Kelly made the switch back to ILB with Blake Baker back in the program.

It’s a move Kelly is hoping can improve LSU’s defense in 2024 while also preparing Perkins to eventually make a jump to 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.

“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.”

No matter where Perkins plays, inside or outside, Harper does not agree with the preseason selection. We very well could see Perkins named an official first-team All-American at the end of the season but for Harper, the production is just not there at the moment.