Tag: Harold Perkins Jr.

5 stats that defined LSU’s Week 4 win over UCLA

These five stats defined LSU’s win over UCLA.

LSU moved to 3-1 on Saturday with a 34-17 win over UCLA. The first half wasn’t pretty, but LSU handled business over the final two quarters.

On offense, [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] was the standout. He completed 32 of 44 passes for 352 yards and three scores. He didn’t throw a pick or take a sack all day and led LSU on two 90+ yard touchdown drives in the second half.

Defensively, it was [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag] proving to be the difference maker yet again. With six more pressures, he’s now tied for the SEC lead with 16 on the year.

LSU failed to cover the spread, but there wasn’t much doubt about this one by the end. Yes, some issues remain and the [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] injury complicates things on defense, but LSU should be happy with the progress its seen in recent weeks.

The Tigers will be heavy favorites in Tiger Stadium against South Alabama this week before SEC play ramps up.

Here are five numbers that defined LSU’s win over UCLA.

UCLA’s 4.83 yards per play

UCLA had moments here and there, but when it was all said and done, the Bruins averaged just 4.83 yards per play. According to GameOnPaper.com, that number sits in the 23rd percentile.

That’s a solid performance for an LSU defense that’s struggled to slow offenses. UCLA hit some big plays, but outside of that, LSU controlled the game.

On the year, LSU is allowing six yards per play, which ranks 103rd nationally. The second half against UCLA offers some hope for that number improving.

0.95 EPA without explosive plays

The best offenses manage to score even when they aren’t explosive. That’s what LSU did on Saturday.

The Tigers maintained a positive EPA/play even when you take out the explosive plays. That speaks to the high floor of this offense.

Down to down, Nussmeier plays clean football. He doesn’t take sacks and he doesn’t put the ball in jeopardy.

On the day, LSU had just three plays that went for negative yards. This offense kept moving it allowed the Tigers to score despite some bad field position.

LSU was 10/15 on third down

LSU found itself in quite a few third downs. The offense wasn’t phased and delivered several key conversions throughout the day.

It helps that LSU’s average third-down distance was just 6.44 — a lot better than UCLA’s mark of 9.08.

The best way to be good on third down is to be good on first and second. LSU put itself in the best position to convert on Saturday.

Swinson and Jones combine for 9 pressures and 3 sacks

This LSU defense is built on creating havoc. LSU was able to do that thanks to its defensive ends on Saturday.

Swinson and [autotag]Sai’Vion Jones[/autotag] combined for nine pressures and three sacks. When UCLA QB Chase Garbers started to get comfortable, LSU started creating pressure.

A couple of the sacks were well-timed too, knocking UCLA out of field goal range and preventing points.

LSU’s defense will experience some growing pains this year, but if it gets these types of games from its veteran pass rushers, the upside is there.

LSU Offense: Pressure rate of 15.9%

Despite the occasional run-blocking struggles, LSU’s offensive line remains an elite pass-protection unit.

Nussmeier was only pressured on 15.9% of his dropbacks vs. UCLA. That was the best mark in the SEC last week.

On the year, Nussmeier’s been pressured on just 17.8% of his dropbacks — also the best mark in the SEC.

If LSU’s offensive line continues to protect like this, Nussmeier will put up gaudy numbers all year.

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LSU’s Bradyn Swinson earns SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors

Bradyn Swinson turned in his second-straight two-sack game on Saturday.

For the second week in a row, LSU edge rusher [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag] has been honored by the league office.

Swinson, now in his second season with the program after transferring in from Oregon, is having a breakout season and has emerged as one of the SEC’s top pass rushers. After turning in another two-sack game in Week 4’s 34-17 win over UCLA, he’s been named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week for the second week in a row.

He was also named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week after a two-sack performance in the win over South Carolina last week.

https://twitter.com/LSUfootball/status/1838248710897315900

Swinson, who already has five sacks and six tackles for loss on the season, could now see an even bigger role. [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] tore his ACL on Saturday, and the Tigers will now be without one of their best havoc-creating players for the remainder of the season.

It’s now even more critical that Swinson continues to be as disruptive as he’s been through the first third of the season.

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Where does LSU turn with Harold Perkins Jr. sidelined for rest of 2024 season?

With star linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. done for the year, LSU will lose some playmaking ability on defense.

LSU star [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] left the win over UCLA with a knee injury. LSU head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] was mum on Perkins after the game, saying tests were needed, but Perkins was “injured.”

On Sunday, LSU’s worst fears came to fruition. Perkins is done for the year with a torn ACL according to 247Sports and other reports.

The loss is a blow to an LSU defense that needs all the help it can get. Perkins was second-team All-SEC in 2023 and preseason All-SEC in 2024 — that’s star power LSU doesn’t have elsewhere on the unit.

With Perkins sidelined, where does LSU go from here?

Without Perkins, LSU is losing a player with game-breaking ability. Dating back to 2022, we’ve seen Perkins take over games and make plays LSU needed to win the game. Even when consistency was a problem for the unit, Perkins had a way of showing up.

Think back to the Alabama game in 2022. LSU struggled to contain Bryce Young in the second half, but Perkins applied seven pressures and a sack — just enough havoc for LSU to secure the upset.

In the Missouri game last year. Mizzou marched up and down the field on LSU, but a Perkins’ interception swung momentum in the second half and gave [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] a chance to lead LSU to a shootout win.

As for 2024, we can debate Perkins’ impact.

According to PFF, he ranks 46th out of 55 qualified SEC linebackers in defensive grade. In four games, he didn’t record a sack and missed six tackles. LSU still lacked a concrete plan for Perkins, playing him at weakside linebacker to begin the year and bumping him to the strongside in week three.

But despite the lack of production, the talent remained undeniable and the flash plays were still there. Perkins came up with some big pressures against South Carolina and even when he isn’t hitting home, offenses have to circle him. Taking that threat off the field will have an impact on this defense.

The good news for LSU is this. [autotag]Bradyn Swinson[/autotag] has emerged as one of the best pass rushers in the SEC, and linebacker [autotag]Whit Weeks[/autotag] is showing he knows how to get after the passer, too.

Still, there’s not a player on this roster with the same all-around ability that Perkins has. Whether it’s a sack, a tackle for loss, or a pick, Perkins impacts every phase of the game when he’s on.

For an LSU defense that relies more on creating havoc than down-to-down efficiency, that matters. With Perkins out, the ceiling of this unit is no doubt lower.

LSU went to a 4-3 look in recent weeks in the hope of getting its three best linebackers on the field. A reversion back to the classic 4-2-5 may be in the fold now.

If LSU does opt to play with three linebackers, expect [autotag]West Weeks[/autotag] to see more time. Weeks is a veteran, but he doesn’t offer the same upside as Perkins.

That’s what LSU’s going to miss. When everything else goes wrong, Perkins’ special ability could mitigate the issues. LSU will have to find havoc elsewhere now.

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LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. out for the season with torn ACL

LSU’s worst fears regarding Harold Perkins’ injury were confirmed on Sunday night.

LSU got the win over UCLA on Saturday, but its already struggling defense suffered a significant loss.

Star linebacker [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] exited the game with a knee injury and was ruled out. Coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] didn’t have any updates after the game, but as was first reported by 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz on Sunday night, Perkins suffered a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the 2024 season.

It’s a loss this defense can hardly afford. Though Perkins hasn’t been as productive so far this fall as he was in his first two seasons when he totaled 13 combined sacks, it’s a major hit nonetheless.

In three games this season, Perkins has 17 tackles, including two for loss.

https://twitter.com/mzenitz/status/1838006679016820994

It’s yet another brutal injury for the Tigers, who have already lost veteran running back [autotag]John Emery Jr.[/autotag] and top defensive tackle [autotag]Jacobian Guillory[/autotag] for the season.

For Perkins, his football future is now murky. He was widely viewed as a first-round pick entering the season, and it’s unclear if he will now seek a return to the Tigers in 2025.

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Stock Up, Stock Down: LSU gets revenge against UCLA

Let’s look at who saw their stock rise and who saw their stock fall in the win over the Bruins.

Revenge is a dish best served in 97-degree heat in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After losing 38-27 to UCLA in 2021, the Tigers entered this game with revenge on their minds. LSU was able to accomplish that goal with a 34-17 victory over the Bruins.

[autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] had an incredible game for the Tigers, finishing the game 32-for-44 with 352 yards and three touchdowns. He was surgically picking apart the Bruins’ defense all day. The LSU defense also did a good job forcing turnovers against UCLA as the Tigers recovered a fumble and got an interception.

The biggest drawback of the day was that LSU sustained a few injuries. Hopefully, those injuries are just minor ones and won’t require the players to miss time.

Let’s look at who saw their stock rise and who saw their stock fall in this game.

Stock Up: Garrett Nussmeier

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

I’m just going to say it. [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] is special. We have seen Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels play for LSU in the past few years and have been spoiled by incredible quarterback play. Nuss is continuing that tradition. He finished the day 32-for-44 for 352 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions.

Stock Up: Mason Taylor

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

It’s always a great time to give the tight end some catches. [autotag]Mason Taylor[/autotag] finished the day with eight receptions for 77 yards as he led the LSU receiving core in the win today.

Stock Up: Aaron Anderson

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

[autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] is stacking good weeks. He had a great game against South Carolina and followed it up with another solid game against UCLA. He finished with six receptions for 75 yards.

Stock Down: Injuries

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

One thing the Tigers did not need any more of was injuries. Unfortunately, [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] left the game with an injury. He wasn’t the only Tiger who was injured today as [autotag]Zay Alexander[/autotag], [autotag]Emery Jones Jr.[/autotag], and [autotag]Jardin Gilbert[/autotag] all suffered injuries as well.

Stock Up: Revenge

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Leading into the game this weekend, a lot of people talked about how LSU lost to UCLA on the road 38-27 in 2021. Brian Kelly helped lead the Tigers to a revenge win today in Baton Rouge.

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Instant analysis from LSU’s Week 4 win over UCLA

The Tigers had another slow start, but they outscored the Bruins 17-0 in the second half to move to 3-1 on the year.

LSU had to battle a slow start once again on Saturday against UCLA in Week 4, but like in Week 3 against South Carolina, it overcame that. This time, the Tigers pulled away in the second half for a much more comfortable 34-17 win to move to 3-1 on the year.

LSU had some defensive struggles in the first half, particularly against the pass, but quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] got off to a hot start with a pair of first-half touchdown passes, including a 45-yard bomb to [autotag]Kyle Parker[/autotag].

And despite those defensive issues, the unit came up with some big, timely plays. The Tigers totaled four first-half sacks and recovered a fumble that led to a field goal.

However, the Bruins managed to drive down the field in the final minute, setting up a game-tying touchdown with two seconds to left as the teams entered the locker room tied at 17.

After getting a stop to start the second half, LSU was pinned at its four but responded with a 14-play, 96-yard drive capped off by a [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] touchdown to get back on top.

The Tigers would expand their lead early in the fourth despite starting the drive pinned at the eight when Nussmeier found freshman running back [autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] on a 35-yard touchdown, most of which came after the catch.

Though LSU allowed a fairly efficient day from quarterback Ethan Garbers aside from a late interception from [autotag]Jardin Gilbert[/autotag], it ultimately tightened up, pitching a second-half shutout while allowing fewer than 300 yards.

On the ground, the Bruins totaled just 14 yards on 22 carries while the Tigers sacked Garbers five times, including one from five-star true freshman [autotag]Dominick McKinley[/autotag].

The defense did suffer a potentially significant loss in the fourth quarter as [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] left the game with a knee injury and was later ruled out. His status moving forward is unclear.

It was another big game for Nussmeier, who completed 32 of 44 passes for 352 yards and three touchdowns. [autotag]Mason Smith[/autotag] (eight catches, 77 yards) and [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] (six catches, 75 yards) paced the team through the air.

It wasn’t a particularly efficient game on the ground, but [autotag]Josh Williams[/autotag] was the standout with 62 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.

The Tigers will play at home again next weekend against South Alabama before a bye. Then, a potentially top-five Ole Miss team comes to town in Week 7.

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LSU star linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. exits UCLA game with knee injury, will not return

Harold Perkins Jr. exited Saturday’s game with a knee injury and did not return.

In the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game against UCLA, LSU suffered an injury it really couldn’t afford.

Star linebacker [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] exited the game after lowering his shoulder to make a tackle, though he injured his knee on the play. Perkins was helped off the field by trainers and taken to the injury tent.

He was later seen being taken to the locker room, and according to ESPN’s Katie George, he will not return to Saturday’s game against UCLA. His status moving forward is unclear as LSU faces South Alabama next week before a bye followed by a home game against Ole Miss.

Perkins has 17 tackles on the season, including 1.5 for loss. He is yet to record a sack after totaling 13 in his first two seasons.

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Top storylines to watch as LSU takes on UCLA in Week 4

Here are the top stories to watch as LSU gets ready for its week four showdown with UCLA.

It’s already Week 4. We await college football’s return for months just for the season to pass in a blur.

The first three weeks of 2024 were far from boring. In LSU’s case, they were more interesting than fans probably would have liked. LSU’s already played in two contests coming down to the final seconds. It was a split with LSU losing to USC but beating South Carolina.

In between, LSU beat FCS Nicholls State, but that score was too close for comfort at some points.

This week, LSU will hope for a boring game. Fans have had enough fireworks for the month of September. The Tigers are a 24-point favorite against UCLA. If this one gets interesting, it’s a red flag for an LSU team still expecting to be in the playoff race.

LSU showed progress in the South Carolina win. Nussmeier made big throws and the defense made a handful of havoc plays. We’ll be looking for more of that when LSU hits the field again tomorrow.

Here are the top storylines to monitor when LSU takes on UCLA.

Caden Durham’s impact

Freshman RB [autotag]Caden Durham[/autotag] was a revelation for LSU in week two. He ran it 11 times for 98 yards and scored twice. Durham delivered a consistent play-making ability to an LSU backfield that lacked the explosiveness element in 2024.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] was hesitant to call Durham LSU’s top back earlier this week. Not surprising given Durham is just a freshman and has 11 career carries.

But what coaches do matters a lot more than what they say, and we’ll see what LSU does with Durham on Saturday. An increased role is expected, but we don’t know just how big that role will be.

If Durham leads LSU’s backs in touches, it could be a sign of things to come.

Does Harold Perkins Jr. take another step?

[autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] played strongside linebacker for LSU against South Carolina. That was different from where he began the year — at the weakside linebacker spot.

Despite moving to SAM, it’s different than the role Perkins played at SAM last year. Kelly said LSU is asking Perkins to fit more in the box as opposed to playing the edge like he did in 2023.

LSU’s linebackers struggled to plug the run against South Carolina and the Gamecocks ran it 41 times for 243 yards. That can’t happen on Saturday and it certainly can’t happen when LSU gets back into SEC play.

Kelly said LSU saw progress from Perkins last week. Another step this week would be big for the LSU defense.

What does Chris Hilton Jr. bring in his first game back?

Kelly said LSU receiver [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] is probable for Saturday after missing the first three games. LSU’s missed Hilton’s speed on the outside when it has struggled to be explosive and Hilton’s return offers a complete look at this offense.

“It’s easy to talk about speed, and he certainly has it,” Kelly said, “I think what he brought and what emerged late in the season and into the bowl game was tracking the ball extremely well down the field. That’s an element that we’re hopeful we start to see a little bit more of.”

Kelly acknowledged that LSU did a better job pushing it down the field against South Carolina, but Hilton could take that to another level.

Don’t expect a game-breaking impact in Game 1, but Hilton has two games to get it rolling before conference play resumes.

How does LSU manage its safety rotation?

In the secondary, keep an eye on how LSU manages the safeties. The cornerback rotation is set with Ashton Stamps, Zy Alexander and PJ Woodland getting most of the reps. The safety group is less set in stone.

We saw LSU show something different last week with freshman DaShawn Spears getting 44 snaps at free safety. Major Burns didn’t miss much action and saw plenty of time in his hybrid role. Jardin Gilbert and Sage Ryan played about 25 snaps each.

Saturday will be a group effort again, but there’s a chance for Spears to grab a spot and not look back.

Can LSU play a complete game?

We’ve yet to see LSU play a complete football game. Against USC, the offense looked good but struggled in the red zone. LSU managed to stop the run but gave up big plays in the passing game.

Against Nicholls, LSU started slow and didn’t put an FCS team away until the third quarter.

Last week, LSU’s defense made some big plays and shut down the passing game, but South Carolina gashed LSU on the ground.

This LSU team can be one of the best teams in the SEC, but it has to come together. LSU doesn’t have one elite element that can carry the team if a unit takes the day off. For this group to compete at the highest level, they need consistency.

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Brian Kelly on Harold Perkins Jr.’s performance vs. South Carolina

LSU head coach said progress was made with linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. on Saturday.

It’s become a talking point every week. How will LSU deploy its star linebacker [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag]?

Perkins is one of the best athletes in the SEC, which gives LSU versatility with its alignments. That’s typically a positive, but LSU shifting Perkins around has, at times, hindered Perkins’ performance along with that of the defense as a whole.

In Week 3’s win over South Carolina, Perkins played strong side linebacker, bumping over from the will spot he played to start the year.

Head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] thought Perkins looked comfortable, saying progress was made at first glance.

The move allowed Perkins to get after the quarterback more. According to PFF, he posted the sixth-best pass rush grade among SEC linebackers in Week 3 and notched two pressures. Perkins made three stops, too.

Perkins has a few more steps to go before he reaches the all-conference expectations he entered the year with. LSU is hoping Perkins can affect all facets of the game on first through third down.

In training camp, Perkins praised LSU defensive coordinator [autotag]Blake Baker[/autotag] for unlocking the defense’s ability to play fast by simplifying some things. Perkins settling in a strong side linebacker should allow for that speed to be applied to games.

Kelly said this is different than what LSU asked Perkins to do on the strong side last year. In 2023, Perkins was an edge player but now he is being asked to fit more in the box.

Perkins continues to show flashes. The next step is finding a new level of consistency.

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Harold Perkins Jr. FaceTimed LSU QB commit Bryce Underwood from the locker room after South Carolina win

LSU’s five-star quarterback commit virtually joined the celebration after LSU’s comeback win on Saturday.

LSU overcame a three-score deficit to beat South Carolina on Saturday — its second-largest road comeback in program history.

While questions remain about this roster, the Tigers avoided an 0-1 start to SEC play, and you can bet it was a celebration in the away locker room in Columbia.

LSU players brought the top recruit in the 2025 class into the mix as [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] called up five-star LSU quarterback commit [autotag]Bryce Underwood[/autotag] from the locker room after the game as the players danced to Darude’s “Sandstorm.”

“Oh we got Bryce! Hold on, we’ll put you on the live,” Perkins said while streaming on Instagram Live. “We got the future! OK!”

Underwood committed to the Tigers in January, and the Belleville, Michigan, prospect has been firm in his commitment, taking no visits to other schools since.

He’s viewed as the long-term quarterback of the future, and LSU players are already getting him involved in the postgame celebration even though he’s not technically on the team yet.

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