LSU football: Which players earned their stripes against Auburn?

3. Harold Perkins

LSU is one of the National Football League’s biggest talent developers. The Tigers rank third amongst universities with 46 of their former players on active NFL rosters. Even though the current team didn’t have high hopes placed on it coming into the season, there are still a ton of talented prospects within its ranks. Players such as Kayshon Boutte and Ojulari are the most highly regarded due to their age and experience.

However, if I was asked to name one individual that I’m certain will succeed on Sundays in the future, I wouldn’t hesitate to respond with Harold Perkins.

He was seen as the single most important recruit for Kelly and his staff coming into the year. The new Tigers coaching regime managed to flip the five-star linebacker from Texas A&M late in the process, and it’s paid dividends thus far.

Perkins started this season on the outside looking in. He wasn’t named as a starter on the defensive depth chart, nor did he get much playing time outside of special teams against Florida State. But with Ojulari and Smith out against Southern (and beyond in the case of the latter), Perkins got his chance to impress versus the Jaguars. He hasn’t looked back since and he’s quickly become an irreplaceable piece on the defensive side of the ball.

The Cypress, Texas native shined against Auburn with three tackles and two quarterback hurries. His most important contribution though was the interception of former LSU wide receiver Koy Moore on a trick play deep in the Tigers’ territory.

Perkins’ massive grab allowed the Bayou Bengals’ defense to keep Auburn off the scoreboard in the second half. It was an obvious turning point in a scrappy SEC away game for LSU. Furthermore, it was a memorable moment in the young career of a budding superstar.

Remember Perkins’ name as he’ll be huge for the Tigers going forward and for a lucky NFL franchise in a few years.