Harold Perkins headlines LSU picks for Phil Steele All-Americans
LSU linebacker Harold Perkins was named First Team All-American in Phil Steele’s preseason All-American teams. The Tigers had five total selections in the annual magazine.
Wide receiver Malik Nabers (second team), offensive tackle Will Campbell (third team) and tight end Mason Taylor (fourth team) were the picks on the offensive side of the ball. Defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo landed on the third team.
Steele picked the Tigers at No. 11 in his preseason Top 25 poll, which had defending National Champion Georgia at the top of the list.
After surprising many in Year 1 under Brian Kelly by winning the SEC West and appearing the conference title game, LSU won’t be flying under the radar in 2023. Starting quarterback Jayden Daniels is back and his backup, Garrett Nussmeier, would probably be starting at a majority of other programs. All five offensive linemen, including Campbell, from 2022 are back and there’s absolutely no shortage of offensive skill in Baton Rouge.
Defensively, the return of defensive tackle Maason Smith, who didn’t make the list, could pay dividends for the Tigers. He was hurt early in the opener in 2022 and missed the whole season. Expectations are high for the former five-star prospect, who has popped up on some preseason lists and NFL Draft boards. Smith landed at No. 14 in ESPN analyst Jordan Reid’s 2024 NFL Mock Draft released this week.
Perkins as a freshman meanwhile, finished the 2022 season with 72 total tackles, 39 solo tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, one interception, two pass deflections and four forced fumbles.
Nabers paced the Tigers in receptions in 2022. Nabers had 1,017 yards and three touchdowns, the only LSU receiver to hit the 1000-yard threshold last year. He’s also getting some NFL Draft buzz ahead of his junior season.
Campbell was a Day 1 starter at left tackle for the Tigers, starting 13 games after a terrific prep career at Monroe (La.) Neville.
In his freshman season, Taylor finished third at LSU in receptions (38) and receiving yards (414) and fourth in receiving touchdowns (3). He caught the game-winning two-point conversion in LSU’s upset win over Alabama in Tiger Stadium.
In his first season at LSU after transferring in from Missouri, Wingo made 13 starts over 14 games, making 47 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, four pass breakups, five quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
