Lane Kiffin praises Suntarine Perkins for great camp in return from injury

After a difficult spring for star Ole Miss edge rusher Suntarine Perkins, battling injury issues, he’s been back at Fall Camp. There he’s stood out to head coach Lane Kiffin as Ole Miss is getting ready for the season.

Kiffin recently shared that he’s been playing very well now that he’s healthy. In the process, he’s even become a player that everyone else on the Ole Miss defense is able to look up to.

“He’s had a great camp coming back from injury,” Lane Kiffin said. “Love the way that he practices, prepares. Great for our young players to see. Actually had a pick-six for a touchdown, interception return for a touchdown to start a two-minute drill Saturday, and he’s just really a great piece to be able to work with because he’s so unique.”

Suntarine Perkins is coming off a season where he was named a Third Team All-SEC defensive lineman. However, a labrum issue this offseason required surgery. It would cost him the spring and there was an abundance of caution in getting Perkins back on the field.

The field is exactly where Lane Kiffin wants Suntarine Perkins to be. Last season, he had 60 total tackles, including 14 tackles for a loss and 10.5 sacks. On top of that, he had an interception and two fumbles recovered. In many ways, it was a season where he lived up to the potential that he came to college with. Out of high school, Perkins was a five-star recruit in the Class of 2023. He was the 14th-ranked recruit nationally and the top-ranked linebacker in that recruiting cycle.

Suntarine Perkins is expected to be the anchor of the Ole Miss defensive line, a unit that should be one of the best in the SEC. Along with Perkins, Kam Franklin, William Echoles, Zxavian Harris, and Jamarious Brown are all expected to be key contributors on the defensive line.

Going into the season, much is expected of Suntarine Perkins in particular. He’s been projected in an early mock draft from Todd McShay to become a first round pick. He’s also received numerous preseason honors. Perhaps the most notable of those is that he was made a Preseason Second-Team All-SEC selection.

Lane Kiffin hopes to see Suntarine Perkins carry over his strong Fall Camp into the regular season. That is set to start on August 30th against Georgia State. SEC play starts up just a bit later, on September 6th, against Kentucky.