LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. has suffered an ACL tear, ending what was anticipated to be his last season with the Tigers before the NFL draft, head coach Brian Kelly announced on Monday.

 

“This is a tough blow, especially given Harold’s dedication,” Kelly said. “We’ll have someone else step in… These situations are hard, but we have strong players ready to fill the gap.”

 

 

The injury to Perkins’ right knee happened during a fourth-quarter tackle in 14th-ranked LSU’s 34-17 win over UCLA. Perkins first made waves as a freshman in 2022-23 with 7.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and an interception.

 

In his sophomore year, as he took on more roles across linebacker spots, his stats dipped slightly, ending with 5.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and an intercept. This season, he had not yet recorded a sack, had 1.5 tackles for loss, and no forced turnovers in nearly four games.