Brian Kelly Reveals Why LSU Is Moving Harold Perkins To The STAR Position
Harold Perkins will play a new position in 2025.
Earlier this week, LSU Football Head Coach, Brian Kelly, did an interview with The Advocate. During their conversation, one of the topics they talked about was Harold Perkins, the Tigers’ star linebacker, who will take up a new role in Blake Baker’s defense.
Since breaking out as a true freshman, recording 72 tackles, 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception, LSU’s staff has been trying to find a way to maximize his talents. In 2022, they mainly used him off the edge, but they knew that wasn’t where he’d play at the next level, so they moved him to inside linebacker.
The past two years have been a bit of a battle. He’s played well in that position, but hasn’t quite impacted games like he did as a true freshman in 2022. Then, just four games into the 2024 season, Perkins tore his ACL, causing him to miss the remainder of the season. He’s been in recovery mode ever since and is expected to be back in action this summer.
Now, heading into his fourth season, Perkins is making a position change. Instead of training at inside linebacker, Perkins will take over Major Burns’ spot at the STAR position.
For those of you who don’t know what the STAR position is, it’s essentially a linebacker/safety hybrid. Blake Baker adopted it when he took over as LSU’s defensive coordinator last year as he tried to find a way to make Burns more productive.
Typically, the STAR position is played by a bigger safety, not a linebacker, but Perkins isn’t your typical linebacker. He’s 6-foot-1, 225-pounds and has great coverage skills. In 2023, his last full season, Perkins allowed 27 of his 42 targets to be caught for 276 yards and didn’t allow a touchdown while picking off one pass and breaking up three more. He earned an 81.1 coverage grade from PFF that year.
When talking to The Advocate about the decision to move Perkins to the STAR, Brian Kelly said they want to put him in the best spot to let him use his athletic abilities, and they think this is it.
“We want to get him running,” Kelly told The Advocate. “We want to get him in his best element, which is being an athlete. We think that position does it for him.”
At the STAR position, Perkins will be asked to do a little bit of everything. He’ll drop back and play coverage, he’ll step up and defend the run, he’ll blitz from the linebacker position and he’ll even come off the edge and rush the passer. Blake Baker now has a tool he can use in pretty much any situation, and it’s going to take a toll on opposing quarterback’s minds.
Will we see the 2022 version of Harold Perkins return next year? I’m not sure, but this feels like the right move if they want to maximize his talents as they try to make a push for the national championship in 2025.
