LSU's Harold Perkins named to Nagurski Trophy Watch List
One of the top playmakers in college football, LSU’s Harold Perkins enters year three at LSU with high expectations. On Tuesday afternoon, the New Orleans native was named to the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Football Writers Association of America announced.
Perkins, now in his third season with the Tigers, has established himself as a game-wrecker on the defensive side of the ball. In two years, he’s tallied 26 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. He’s also forced seven fumbles and intercepted a pair of passes. He has 147 career tackles.
The Nagurski Trophy is presented annually to the nation’s top defender by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. LSU’s Glenn Dorsey won the award in 2007.
Perkins showed his versatility last year in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Wisconsin when he scored his first career touchdown on a 1-yard run in the 35-31 LSU victory. It was Perkins’ first offensive snap as a Tiger.
Perkins, who also excels in the classroom, earned first-team All-SEC honors as a true freshman in 2022 followed by second-team recognition last year. He earned SEC Academic Honor Roll status in 2023 as well as First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2022.
As a rookie, Perkins was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week twice, SEC Freshman of the Week once and was named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the road win over Arkansas.
The following is a listing of each preseason award along with the watch list release date:
Release Date Award LSU Players Represented
July 29 Maxwell Award QB Garrett Nussmeier, WR Kyren Lacy
July 29 Patrick Mannelly Award LS Slade Roy
July 30 Nagurski Trophy LB Harold Perkins
July 30 Outland Award Nation’s Most Outstanding Interior Lineman
July 31 Thorpe Award Nation’s Best Defensive Back
August 1 Hornung Award Nation’s Most Versatile Player
August 1 Wuerffel Trophy Nation’s Award for Community Service
August 2 Lou Groza Award Nation’s Top Placekicker
Ray Guy Award Nation’s Top Punter
August 5 Walter Camp Award Nation’s Most Outstanding Player
August 6 Doak Walker Award Nation’s Premier Running Back
August 7 Biletnikoff Award Nation’s Outstanding Receiver (no matter position)
August 8 Davey O’Brien Award Nation’s Best Quarterback
August. 9 Mackey Award Nation’s Most Outstanding Tight End
August 9 Rimington Trophy Nation’s Top Center
August 12 Bednarik Award College Defensive Player of the Year
August 13 Butkus Award Nation’s Best Linebacker
