The Ole Miss defense has undergone a major shift over the course of roughly four years. What was once a bottom feeder in the SEC, as well as the country, has quietly improved tremendously. Last year, they were one of the nation’s best defenses. The Rebels finished second in scoring defense, as well as 14th in total defense. On top of that, they led the FBS in sacks per game (4.0). But now they face a unique task of rebuilding that unit. After losing multiple pieces from last year’s defense, Ole Miss is in desperate need of a leader on that side of the ball. Expect that leader to ultimately be Suntarine Perkins.
Is Suntarine Perkins the Unquestioned Leader of the Ole Miss Defense?
Among the numerous losses to the Rebels’ defense are Walter Nolen, Princely Umanmielen, and Trey Amos. Also gone are Jared Ivey and Chris “Pooh” Paul, both expected to be mid-round draft picks. With last year’s leaders gone, a huge opportunity has opened for Perkins to become the unquestioned leader of the Ole Miss defense.
So who is Perkins, and why are all eyes on him to take the next step forward in 2025?
Suntarine Perkins High School Career
As a high schooler at Raleigh High School, Perkins quickly made a name for himself as a star on both sides of the ball. During his high school career, he racked up over 5,000 all-purpose yards, including rushing for 2,078 yards as a senior. On the defensive side, he totaled 267 tackles during his four years at Raleigh. As a senior, he led Raleigh to its first ever state title. In the state title game, he ran for 331 yards and four touchdowns. He also put up six tackles and an interception on defense. Weeks later, he was named MVP of the annual Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game. In that contest, he totaled 10 tackles, with three coming for loss.
All of this was enough for him to unanimously be considered a four-star prospect by all of the major recruiting outlets. He was rated as the top player in the state of Mississippi in 2022, and was also rated as the nation’s second best linebacker, according to 247Sports. In the end, he decided to stay home and attend Ole Miss, over offers from Alabama, Georgia, and Texas, among others.
Ole Miss Career, To This Point
Perkins is now two years into his Ole Miss career. As a freshman, he appeared in all 13 games, and started in two of them. He finished that season with 38 total tackles, along with 3.5 sacks. The sack tally was good enough for third on the team in 2023.
Then last year, as a sophomore, is where he really started to make a major impact. He once again appeared in all 13 games for the Rebels, starting in eight contests. He racked up 60 total tackles, with 32 solo. Perkins also finished tied for the team lead in sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (14). The sack number was good enough for second in Ole Miss single-season history. On top of those numbers, he also recovered two fumbles, and intercepted one pass on the year. All of that proved to be enough for him to be named third team All-SEC for the 2o24 season.
What to Expect From Perkins in 2025?
After a solid sophomore year, and now expected to be the leader of the defense in 2025, expectations for Perkins’ junior year are much higher than they have been previously. With the Rebels’ leading linebacker and leading edge rusher both going pro, both positions he would typically line up at will have holes he can fill. That being said, expect him to be an every week starter come August.
Listed at 6’1″ and 210 pounds, Perkins is lighter than what we’ve grown accustomed to seeing from SEC linebackers, much less edge rushers. However, his unique blend of speed and athleticism allows him to get after the quarterback effectively, or drop into coverage if needed.
Now, entering his third year in Pete Golding’s system, expect him to take that next step forward for Ole Miss. This means not only being the leader for the defense on the field, but being an outspoken leader for the Rebels off the field, as well.
Main Image: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
