Harold Perkins in league with famous dominant SEC freshmen

LSU Tigers linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. Jake Crandall / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK

Harold Perkins in league with Jadeveon Clowney, Myles Garrett as dominant SEC freshmen

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 12/2/22

A talent like LSU freshman Harold Perkins doesn't come around often. It's been more than a decade since South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney burst on the scene, and eight years since Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett introduced himself to a wide audience. Perkins fits right along with them.

That is high praise for the freshman; Clowney was the first overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, and Garrett was drafted first overall in 2017. Perkins hasn't reached that level yet — ESPN's Todd McShay declared him a "top-20" prospect after a dominant performance against Arkansas — but his numbers as a freshman compare favorably to both Clowney's and Garrett's.

Mark it down now… LSU true freshman LB Harold Perkins is a top-20 draft pick in 2025. He is a special talent!
— Todd McShay (@McShay13) November 12, 2022

The South Carolina standout Clowney finished his freshman season with 36 tackles (12 for loss), eight sacks, five forced fumbles and a pass deflection.

Garrett had 49 tackles (12.5 for loss), 11 sacks and one pass deflection.

In Perkins' first year, he has 59 tackles (10 for loss), 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two pass deflections and an interception.

Clowney's and Garrett's strongest seasons came during their sophomore campaigns. Clowney finished his second season with 13 sacks and was sixth in Heisman Trophy voting, via Sports Reference.

Garrett had 11.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, two pass deflections and an interception.

Really strong group of finalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award: North Carolina QB Drake Maye; LSU LB Harold Perkins Jr.; Penn State LB Abdul Carter; UGA DB Malaki Starks and Ole Miss RB Quinshon Judkins.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 1, 2022

Perkins was announced as one of five finalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award on Dec 1.

That award originated in 2019, well after Clowney and Garrett wreaked havoc as freshmen in the SEC. That didn't stop Clowney from being named the SEC's Freshman of the Year in 2011. Garrett was overlooked in 2014 in favor of Georgia running back Nick Chubb.

The winner of the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award will be revealed on Dec. 29. Perkins is a strong bet to hear his name called that night.

A couple of years from now, he's an even stronger bet to hear his name called by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. If he maintains the pace he set for himself with a searing freshman campaign, he'll certainly be a top-20 draft pick. And like Clowney and Garrett, he won't be drafted Nos. 2 through 20.

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