OXFORD — He might have been listed as a defensive end on Ole Miss’ official roster for a period of time this summer. But don’t expect sophomore defender Suntarine Perkins to stay put in one spot on the field in 2024. Perkins figures to be defensive coordinator Pete Golding’s newest Swiss Army Knife.
Perkins was a five-star recruit and a unanimous top-100 prospect as a linebacker in the Rebels’ 2023 class after starring on both sides of the ball at Raleigh High School. Perkins made 92 tackles and intercepted four passes and ran for 2,078 yards and 32 touchdowns as a senior for the Lions, leading Raleigh to the Mississippi 3A title.
Perkins played in every game for the Rebels as a true freshman in 2023 and made a pair of starts. He finished with 38 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks and was named to the SEC All-Freshman team. During the spring, Perkins — currently listed at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds — spent much of his time lined up on the defensive line rather than at linebacker and, when the team’s summer roster was unveiled, he had been officially moved to defensive end. He was moved back to linebacker when the fall rosters were updated.
“So far everything’s gone pretty good,” Perkins said of his move to end.
According to Pro Football Focus, Perkins played 346 total snaps last season — 163 were as a run defender, 132 came as a pass rusher and 51 were coverage drops. Versatility is a reason Golding thinks Perkins is a perfect fit for his defense. Perkins’ natural athletic ability allows him to do a bit of everything and keeps his intentions on a given play somewhat of a mystery to the offense. Just because he’s listed as one thing on the roster or depth chart doesn’t mean that’s where he will always line up.
“We move that guy around a lot, and so they always have to account for where he’s at,” Golding said. “That’s a flexible position for us. He’s a rusher and a dropper, because he’s athletic enough to be a ‘money’ backer, so they can’t always count on that guy coming. And so we do a lot of things to pull to him and then pressure away … because he’s athletic enough to play certain coverages.”
” … I think you’re going to see him at a lot of different positions.”
The key to playing defense in 2024, Golding said, is positional versatility and speed. Gone are the days of needing jumbo linebackers, he said, noting the Rebels played 5-foot-9, 200 pounds Ladarius Tennison in the “money” spot a year ago. It’s part of the reason redshirt freshman Daniel Demery moved from safety to linebacker this year.
The game is played horizontally now, Golding said.
“(Perkins’) versatility as a player really allows him to (do) really well at that spot,” Golding said. “But I think you’re going to see him at a lot of different positions.”
Golding wanted Perkins to focus on one spot last year but, now that he’s been in the system, the goal is to have him know how to line up anywhere. Having interchangeable pieces across the board makes it easier for someone to step in should an injury occur. If the team’s “money” linebacker goes down, it doesn’t have to be the backup on the depth chart that goes in. Instead, it can simply be the next best player, Golding said, because he already knows how to play the position.
It allows for Golding to “coach interchangeably” and to keep his defense multiple.
“ … The athletic ability and the want-to’s always been there (with Perkins),” Golding said. “And so I think there’s going to be a more comfortable player that you’re going to see on tape that’s going to play with more confidence.”
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