By james art 
John Korduner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. will miss the remainder of the 2024 season after tearing his ACL, according to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz and ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.
The injury occurred in the fourth quarter of the Tigers’ 34-17 win over UCLA.
Perkins was the crown jewel of head coach Brian Kelly’s first recruiting class in 2022. He was ranked eighth nationally in the 247Sports composite rankings that year.
The New Orleans native lived up to the hype as a true freshman, finishing with 72 tackles, 7.5 sacks and four forced fumbles to earn first-team All-SEC honors.
Perkins’ sophomore year brought a change in position as he lined up more as an off-ball defender rather than a rusher. The move had a knock-on effect on his production, as his sack rate fell to 5.5, although his tackle rating rose slightly to 75 despite appearing in one fewer game.
Kelly kept Perkins in the off-ball role this season. In four starts, the junior had 17 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
While Perkins doesn’t impact games as prominently as he did in 2022, he remains a key defender for LSU. His absence will be felt when the team turns to its SEC slate of games.
The injury could also affect his future in Baton Rouge.
“Perkins is a natural pass rusher with the movement skills of a defender without the ball and the build of a safety (6’1″, 225 lbs),” reads his scouting report. “There’s no reason to put him in a specific position. Instead, it should be seen as a defensive weapon that can be used in a variety of ways.”
While he seemed like a safe bet to leave, it may now be in Perkins’ best interest to spend another season with the Tigers.