From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on LSU LB Harold Perkins Jr.
No. 7 Harold Perkins Jr./LB LSU 6010/223 (Fourth-year Junior)
Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Harold Perkins Jr. 6010/223 8 1/8″ 31 3/8″ N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
N/A N/A N/A
The Good
– Blazing speed that can close the cushion and cover sideline-to-sideline
– Exceptional fluidity with loose hips that support his change of direction
– Fluent lateral agility
– Plays with a low center of gravity
– Explosive, downhill trigger when blitzing
– Excellent stop-and-go footwork when working stunts
– Capable of getting “skinny” and ripping through blocks with his quickness
– Decisive in his run keys and knifes through blockers when he diagnoses
– Uses the sideline well to leverage ball carriers
– Demonstrates a feel for navigating through traffic
– Swift and aggressive closing speed when chasing down ball carriers
– Physical and violent finisher
– Light on his feet in zone coverage
– Disrupts route timing with reroutes
The Bad
– Undersized for an edge rusher and lacks mass to be a traditional off-ball linebacker
– Shorter arm length stunts his efforts to disengage from linemen
– Pass rush ability is limited if his initial attempt gets stalled
– Susceptible to erratic blitzes that allow linemen to absorb his momentum
– Struggles to hold the point of attack against bigger matchups
– Prone to taking false steps and wasting movement
– Struggles with angle projection when pursuing, leading to missed tackles
– Plays flat-footed in man coverage
– RB option routes can freeze him
Stats
– 2025 stats: 56 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 3 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 13 missed tackles, 19 pressures, 12 games played
– Career stats: 220 tackles, 35.5 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, 5 interceptions, 8 forced fumbles, 41 missed tackles, 81 pressures, 43 games played
– Missed 21 percent of tackle attempts (2025)
– Allowed 29 receptions (2025)
Injury History
– Suffered a torn ACL in his right knee against UCLA that forced reconstructive surgery (2024)
– Endured a hip pointer against Western Kentucky but avoided structural damage(2025)
Background
– Born September 10th, 2004 (21 years old)
– Consensus five-star recruit and top-ranked linebacker
– Starred as both a running back and linebacker, earning first-team All-Greater Houston honors as a “utility player”
– Originally committed to Texas A&M during the Under Armour All-America Game before flipping commitment to LSU
– Dual-sport athlete who shone in basketball as well
-Early enrollee at LSU who graduated high school a semester early
– Four consecutive SEC Academic Honor Roll appearances (2022-2025)
– Semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy (Academic Heisman) (2025)
– Named to the SEC Community Service Team for his volunteer work (2025)
– Works with the Baton Rouge Food Bank
– Participates in a “Shop with a Player” initiative every Christmas
– Third-team All-SEC (2025) and Second-team All-SEC (2023)
– Freshman All-American and first-team All-SEC (2022)
– Earned Percy E. Roberts Award for LSU’s best defensive player (2022)
– Lived in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, which influenced his decision to attend LSU
– Turned to religion for support during his ACL injury and describes it as a moment that helped him “mature as a man”
– Serves as a mentor at the Boys & Girls Club
Tape Breakdown
Perkins is a fascinating evaluation. During his time at LSU, he never locked into a permanent position. He played on the edge, aligned as an off-ball linebacker, lined up in the nickel, and was asked to do a little bit of everything. While his role was never truly solidified, his production was. Across his three seasons, Perkins consistently delivered at a high level.
A primary driver of that production is his athleticism. No matter where he lined up, Perkins offered a superior athletic profile to the players around him. Even though he didn’t test at the Combine, his explosiveness is obvious on film. He has blazing speed that erases cushion in a hurry and allows him to chase plays down from the backside.
Early in his LSU career, Perkins was primarily an edge rusher, and he delivered top-tier production in that role. However, given his size limitations, it was never realistic to project him as a full-time pass rusher at the next level. After transitioning to off-ball linebacker, he maintained his impact as a pass-rush presence, thriving as a blitzer.
That success is rooted in his explosive downhill trigger, which consistently disrupts blockers’ timing. Perkins plays with a natural aggression that pairs well with his low center of gravity, allowing him to unsettle linemen’s base. His first step off the edge immediately stresses the outside shoulder of tackles before they can fully establish their kick-slide. He also flashes impressive functional strength in his upper body, dropping his outside shoulder to gain leverage under a lineman’s pads before ripping through their outstretched arms.
In his current role as LSU’s “star” defender, Perkins is often tasked with spying the quarterback and triggering downhill as soon as the passer breaks the pocket. He has lethal stop-and-start ability, reaching top speed from a standstill in an instant. That burst allows him to arrive at the point of attack before the quarterback has time to adjust or escape.
Perkins’ ability as a run defender has improved dramatically since his freshman season. While his run diagnostics are still raw by NFL standards, there has been clear growth as he’s gained more experience playing off the ball. Once he keys the play, he is very decisive. He attacks downhill and knifes into the backfield as soon as a lane appears.
Given his size, he’s better suited to slipping blocks than taking them on squarely. Fortunately, his speed and agility allow him to do exactly that. He can bend underneath oncoming linemen and work past them without having to square up and anchor.
His biggest area for growth is his jumpiness. Although his aggressive play style is generally a positive trait for a defender, it can be weaponized against him by savvy play callers. Against misdirection, he will frequently take false steps because of his overeagerness. That didn’t consistently hurt him at the collegiate level because of his athleticism, but if it continues in the NFL, it will routinely leave him a step behind the play.
Coverage has been the steepest learning curve for Perkins since moving off the ball, but he’s handled the transition reasonably well. In pure assignment-based zone coverage, he shows swift feet and loose hips that allow him to flip his direction and cover plenty of ground. There’s more than enough athleticism for him to carry receivers up the seam when asked.
When he stays disciplined in his assignment, he can be effective. His issues, which are understandable given his relative inexperience, tend to surface against route combinations that create traffic. Versus crossing routes, he can drift off his responsibilities and lose track of secondary threats.
As he gained more reps last season, there were increasing flashes of reliability in coverage. Any team that drafts him will need to continue developing this aspect of his game, but the trajectory and physical tools suggest it can become a solid part of his profile.
Conclusion
Overall, Perkins’ NFL outlook will heavily depend on his landing spot. Although some prospects can plug into any scheme and function as true plug-and-play pieces, Perkins cannot. Still, his unteachable traits justify a strong grade, especially for teams willing to build around his skill set. I’m always inclined to bet on athletic, productive players.
His flaws are largely correctable. While his run diagnostics remain inconsistent and there is still too much wasted movement, those issues should diminish as he gains experience. The same is true of his coverage concerns. What makes Perkins particularly intriguing are the traits you can’t coach. His game speed and violent trigger are among the best at the linebacker position in this class, if not the best. He also has an uncanny nose for the football, regularly making impact plays for the LSU defense.
A rigid, conventional off-ball role likely caps his very high ceiling. He fits best in an aggressive, hybrid defense that embraces position-less football and emphasizes disruption and matchup creation. His experience across multiple roles underscores how scheme-dependent his success will be.
Because of his wild-card profile, it’s difficult to find a clean comparison. Zack Baun offers a rough blueprint for how Perkins could be utilized. Baun carries more mass, but both possess an exceptionally quick first step and natural bend as pass rushers. Deploying Perkins as a “rover” or featuring him prominently in simulated pressures can create a nightmare for interior linemen in much the same way. Ultimately, he’s at his best when he’s moving forward and attacking.
Perkins also earns the “versatile” label for good reason. He brings extensive and productive experience as an edge rusher, an off-ball linebacker, and a slot/overhang defender, giving creative defensive coordinators a wide menu of ways to weaponize him.
NFL Draft Projection: Late Day Two – Early Day Three
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 7.8 (V) (Spot Starter)
Grade Range: 7.1 – 8.7
Games Watched: @ Clemson (2025), vs. South Carolina (2025), @ Alabama (2025), @ Oklahoma (2025)
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