Injuries are an unfortunate part of sports, and yet they happen every season like clockwork. It doesn’t matter which team or player they affect, but certain injuries can ruin a team’s entire season.

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The LSU Tigers football team beat the UCLA Bruins over the weekend, but lost an important player from their squad. Star linebacker Harold Perkin had to leave the game early due to a knee injury. It has now been determined that he has torn his anterior cruciate ligament.

He will likely miss the rest of the season, which would be a major loss for the Tigers’ defensive unit.

Perkins had recorded 17 total tackles and recovered one fumble for the Tigers this season. He has proven to be one of the better defenders in all of college football and was looking forward to another dominant season.

Last year, Perkins recorded 75 total tackles, 5.5 sacks and one interception in 13 games. In his freshman season, the linebacker recorded 72 total tackles, 7.5 sacks and one interception in 14 games.

He was a leader on defense and his presence will be missed. Before the start of the year, Perkins was given the famous No. 7 jersey by the Tigers program, a symbol of the best player on the squad that season.

Some of the other notable LSU players who wore number 7 over the years were Patrick Peterson, Grant Delpit, Tyrann Mathieu, Leonard Fournette, DJ Chark Jr. and Jonathon Giles

Perkins was also considered a potential top-20 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but his injury could change that. As a third-year player, Perkins could decide to forgo the NFL and return to LSU for one final season to improve his draft value.

LSU will now have to move on without their leader on defense, which could cause some problems for them. Although the Tigers unit has been better this season than in years past, losing a talent like Perkins is tough, especially when playing in the crowded SEC Conference.

The team was already without running back John Emery Jr. and defensive tackle Jacobian Guillory, who were both out due to season-ending injuries, and they will look to move on and continue the success they have already achieved.

LSU has a 3-1 season record after beating UCLA. They will play South Alabama this weekend before having a week off to rest up for an SEC matchup against Ole Miss.

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