LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. will miss the remainder of the 2024 season after suffering a knee injury in the team’s victory over UCLA.
Tigers head coach Brian Kelly said Perkins suffered a torn ACL. Perkins was expected to declare for the NFL Draft after the season.
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LSU head coach Brian Kelly (right) pats linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. (7) on the shoulder as he is led off the field after sustaining an injury during the second half of an NCAA college football game against UCLA in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
“It’s certainly an injury that we’re very sorry about, especially because of Harold and the work he’s done,” Kelly said. “We’re going to have somebody else step in. … It’s difficult, but we’ve got really good players that can step in.”
Perkins went down in the first quarter while attempting to make a tackle against the Bruins. In the first four games of the season, he had just 1.5 tackles for loss.
He was selected as an AP All-America in the preseason after having 5.5 sacks and 75 total tackles in his sophomore season at LSU. In his freshman season, Perkins had 72 total tackles and 7.5 sacks.
LSU head coach Brian Kelly greets linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. (7) before an NCAA college football game against UCLA in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
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Sophomore Whit Weeks is ranked behind Perkins and will likely be called upon next to step up. West Weeks and JK Johnson are also ranked for the Tigers.
LSU will play South Alabama on Saturday before the SEC schedule gets underway.
September 7, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Nicholls State Colonels quarterback Pat McQuaide (7) rolls out of the pocket against LSU Tigers linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. (7) during the second half at Tiger Stadium. (Stephen Lew-Images)
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The Tigers beat South Carolina earlier this month, and LSU’s only loss came in its first game of the season against USC.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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