LSU five-star signee Harold Perkins compares to another former five-star prospect
When LSU inked five-star Cy Park (Tex.) linebacker Harold Perkins, it was a major land for Brian Kelly in his first National Signing Day in Baton Rouge. The elite Lone Star State prospect filled a major position of need and signified a return to Louisiana for the New Orleans native.
On3 director of scouting Charles Power, when comparing the On3 five-star prospects to NFL stars, said Perkins resembles another former Top 10 overall prospect on the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
“Both Harold Perkins and Shaq Thompson were two-way threats at the high school level as dynamic running backs who projected on defense long-term,” Power wrote in his piece this week. “Thompson was an On3 Consensus top ten prospect coming out of Sacramento Grant Union in the 2012 cycle. The future Carolina Panther linebacker was primarily viewed as a big safety prospect at the time.
“Thompson was prolific running back in high school, rushing for over 3,000 yards and 47 touchdowns while averaging 10.8 yards per carry. Perkins was similar, rushing for 1,194 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior while averaging an amazing 17.8 yards per carry. Both Thompson and Perkins also showed top-end speed. Thompson posted a 10.96 second mark in the 100 meters while Perkins ran an electronically-timed 4.47 40-yard dash prior to his junior season.
“Thompson appears to have a little more length than Perkins, who may be a touch taller. Like Thompson, Perkins also has the talent to see some time on offense in college, before ultimately settling in a linebacker long-term.”
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Harold Perkins is the No. 7 overall prospect in the 2022 class, according to the On3 Consensus. He ranks as the nation’s top linebacker and the No. 2 prospect in Texas this cycle.
LSU lands one of America’s best in Harold Perkins
According to the On3 NIL Valuation, Harold Perkins ranks as the No. 42 overall prospect in high school football. He has a yearly value of $52 thousand a year thanks to his roughly 31,000 followers on social media.
Last weekend, Perkins took his final official visit to LSU, where he was able to get another look at Baton Rouge. That ultimately pushed Perkins to the Tigers over likes of Florida, Texas, Texas A&M and numerous others. Perkins had been committed to the Aggies since the Under Armour All-American Game.
In 2021, Perkins showed his versatility and recorded 35 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, a pass breakup, a forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and three interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He finished with 1,352 yards and 21 touchdowns, averaging over 17 yards per carry for Cy Park, which competes in Class 6A.
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