Nov 11, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. (4) tackles Florida Gators wide receiver Marcus Burke (88) during the second half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Harold Perkins Jr. LB LSU |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #7 PLAY STYLE: COVERAGE LB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/23/2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.45 seconds (97%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 23.10 DOB: 09/10/2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Shrine Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #7 | |
| PLAY STYLE: COVERAGE LB | |
| Last Updated: 03/23/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| Forty time: 4.45 seconds (97%*) | |
| Age: 23.10 DOB: 09/10/2002 | |
| Bowl Invite: Shrine Bowl | |
| Overall Rating: | 83.3 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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74% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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56% |
| Pass Rush: |
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75% |
| Run Defense: |
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73% |
| Coverage: |
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53% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#133
Position rank:
#15 (LB)
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| College Games: 41 College Snaps: 2167 | ||
ESPN RATING: 93/100
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247 RATING: 99/100
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RIVALS RATING: 6.0 (98%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Magee - Temple |
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91% |
| Ty'Ron Hopper - Missouri |
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82% |
| Barrett Carter - Clemson |
|
78% |
Drafted: ROUND: 6 - Pick Number: 215 (ATL)
Draft Profile: Bio
Hurricane Katrina relocated Harold Perkins Jr.'s family from New Orleans to the Houston area, and he eventually landed at Cypress Park High School in Cypress, Texas, where he became a consensus five-star recruit. ESPN ranked him No. 4 overall nationally in the 2022 class, 247Sports had him at No. 8, and he participated in the Under Armour All-America Game.Perkins was one of the best true freshmen in recent SEC history at LSU in 2022, recording 72 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks across 14 games. The tackle-for-loss total led all Power 5 freshmen. He earned First-Team All-SEC from the AP, Freshman All-America honors, and back-to-back SEC Defensive Player of the Week awards against Alabama and Arkansas.
His sophomore year brought a position shift to off-ball linebacker, where he still managed 75 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks en route to Second-Team All-SEC. A torn ACL against UCLA in 2024 limited him to four games as a junior. Perkins returned for 2025 and posted 56 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and 3 interceptions across 12 games. He finished his LSU career with 35.5 tackles for loss and 17 sacks in 43 games.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Elite straight-line speed for a linebacker; closes ground in pursuit faster than most at the position.
- Natural feel for timing blitzes and working through stunts with sharp stop-start footwork.
- Generates real power on contact when he commits to driving through ball carriers downhill.
- Good shoulder strength as a pass rusher; can rip through initial contact to reach the pocket.
- Works the sideline well, using leverage and body control to finish plays near the boundary.
- Showed discipline in zone coverage passing off routes and sitting in landmarks in 2023.
- Ball production is notable: 5 career interceptions, 8 forced fumbles, 17 sacks across four years.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Significantly undersized at his listed weight; gets washed out by bigger blockers too often.
- Tackling reliability has trended the wrong direction since his freshman year, with too many whiffs.
- Coverage tape is inconsistent; gets caught flat-footed on option routes and loses backs out of the backfield.
- Spends too much time on his heels, which robs him of the explosive first step his athleticism should provide.
- Lacks anchor against downhill blocks and struggles to re-establish his base once knocked off balance.
- Awareness lapses show up in traffic post-catch, drifting from assignments and opening lanes.
- Post-ACL athleticism has not fully matched his 2022 tape; closing burst appears diminished on film.
Scouting Report: Summary
The challenge with Perkins is reconciling what he was as a freshman with what he has been since. That 2022 season was special, a true freshman racking up 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in the SEC while playing primarily on the line of scrimmage. Since then, LSU moved him off the ball, an ACL tear cost him most of 2024, and the explosive traits that made him so disruptive have not returned at the same level. His pass-rush ability in 2025 was still solid, but the tackling tells a concerning story, and his coverage was a clear weak point outside of one strong stretch in 2023.What Perkins does offer is rare speed at the linebacker position and enough pass-rush skill to be a weapon on designed pressures. He fits best as a WILL linebacker or hybrid STAR defender where he can attack downhill and rush the passer on passing situations rather than sorting through traffic in coverage every snap. Defenses that deploy sub-packages heavily and need someone who can pressure the quarterback from multiple alignments will find value here. His ability to line up on the edge, in the box, and over slot receivers gives coordinators options, even if he is not a finished product in any single spot.
The ACL recovery and his frame both carry real risk. At his weight, the margin for error against NFL blockers is thin, and the climbing missed-tackle rate suggests that issue is not purely injury-related. Still, there is enough athletic upside and pass-rush ability for a team willing to commit to a defined role. The ceiling on passing downs is worth the bet for a team with a plan.
Written By:
Wyatt Brooks (SEC)
Harold Perkins Jr. percentiles vs other Linebackers (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Harold Perkins Jr. (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
118.6
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
15.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.