Harold Perkins

Perkins was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but his family was displaced by Hurricane Katrina a year after his birth. They eventually evacuated to Cypress, Texas where he played high school football and basketball for Cypress Park High School. He played linebacker and running back, earning first team All-Greater Houston as a utility player on offense. He was rated No. 4 nationally and No. 1 at the linebacker position in ESPN's rankings of the 2022 college football recruiting class. Perkins originally committed to Texas A&M, then decommitted, and ultimately signed with LSU. Perkins won a starting spot at linebacker as a freshman. He was named to the Pro Football Focus's True Freshman All-American Team after collecting 72 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and one interception. In 2023, he started all 13 games at linebacker and led the Tigers in tackles for a loss for the second consecutive season with 13. He finished the season with 75 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and one interception. In 2024, Perkins tore his ACL in the fourth week of the season, making it possible that he may return to LSU for his senior season.