Spy Kids 2? Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss defense have hands full with LSU’s Jayden Daniels

Ole Miss on Saturday at Alabama used ascending true freshman linebacker Suntarine Perkins as a spy of Jalen Milroe, the Crimson Tide’s dual-threat quarterback.

Granted, Alabama, as a team, and with a resurgent second half, ultimately emerged (comfortably) victorious in the overall war. But the one-on-one, in-game battle between Milroe and Perkins?

Much more competitive. 

Perkins was one of the few On3 Five-Star Plus+ prospects in the 2023 recruiting class. Perkins, through four career college games, has now led Ole Miss (3-1, 0-1 SEC) in tackles (9, Mercer), as well as served as the game-plan focal point in a critical, SEC West showdown for first-year coordinator Pete Golding. He had four tackles in the 24-10 loss in Tuscaloosa, including two sacks of Milroe, the first coming on the Tide’s second play from scrimmage.

Could he be used similarly against Jayden Daniels and No. 13 LSU (3-1, 2-0) in four days’ time? Fourth-year Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin was asked during his weekly press conference on Monday.

Kickoff for the latest showdown in the long-time series between the bitter rivals is Saturday at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN.

“That was specific for who we were playing,” Kiffin said. “That’s like playing Michael Vick; (Milroe’s) so dynamic taking off with the ball and running with it. Most of your guys can’t catch him. That was a very specific plan for that quarterback and that offensive play-calling.

“So, I wouldn’t think that would be used again.”

RELATED: Suntarine Perkins has the attention of his Ole Miss teammates, too

(*Lloyd Christmas voice): ‘So, Lane, you’re saying there’s a chance?!?’

Objectively, his answer wasn’t exactly a full-throated denial. Not to mention Kiffin is notorious for his gamesmanship (read: trolling) of the upcoming opponent with each new game week. 

Kiffin is very close with ESPN’s Chris Low dating back to their days together on Rocky Top (Tennessee). Low reported only hours before kickoff at Alabama that Ole Miss wide receivers Tre Harris and Zakhari Franklin, as well as tight end Caden Prieskorn, were doubtful to play. All three had been out of commission with separate knee injuries.

They all played. Prieskorn, a celebrated transfer addition from Memphis in the off-season, made the first catch of his one-and-done Ole Miss career on the second play of the game. Harris visibly appeared the most limited. The transfer from Louisiana Tech had five touchdowns through as many quarters before his injury.

“I think that was a really difficult situation for them,” Kiffin said, in an answer to a question specifically about Franklin and Prieskorn. Franklin, like Prieskorn, was pulled out of the portal, but from UTSA. He had a knee scope two weeks into August practices. Saturday was his Rebel debut, too. 

Kiffin added, “Neither had played; both returning from surgeries. Really kind of crazy that you had three players, three significant pieces coming back from surgery trying to play. Two of them hadn’t played all year. 

“I thought those guys pushed through; that’s really challenging to do. The good part is they’ll obviously get better having some game experience under them with their injuries. It’s not like they needed game experience, because they’ve played a lot, they just needed to get in game shape and play through some games.”

Franklin re-wrote record books in 46 career games for UTSA. 

He was a two-time first-team All-Conference USA selection, as well as a Phile Steele honorable mention All-American in 2022. Franklin has 13 career 100-yard receiving games. Last season he tied for second nationally in receiving touchdowns (15).

Prieskorn appeared in all 25 games for Memphis the last two seasons. He led the Tigers in receiving yards (602) and tied for the team lead in touchdowns (7) last year. Prieskorn was named first-team All-AAC and was widely considered in the preseason as one of the top returning players at his position in all of college football.

“I’ve always known that our best was to come, knowing that we didn’t have those guys yet in our offense, even though things were going well early at times,” Kiffin continued. “And then losing Tre, and him having surgery, he was probably 70 percent and only ran one type of route. 

“I think the future is really exciting in that way. It’s good to see them back.”

The future is really exciting for Perkins, too. 

And, anyway, who’s to say Kiffin isn’t being truthful when he says Perkins probably won’t be spying again?

But IF PERKINS DOES end up spying, Ole Miss can take solace in the fact he’s now got actual game experience (and success!) to lean on and pull from, even if Daniels, the SEC’s reigning Co-Offensive Player of the Week, would be a different caliber of challenge. 

Daniels is just the sixth quarterback in NCAA history to throw for 10,000 career yards and rush for 2,000 yards. He was 20 for 29 for 320 yards and four touchdowns in a come-from-behind win over Arkansas, completing all but two of his 13 second-half passes.

Daniels is only one of two players in LSU history with 4,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards.

“This guy is playing great; playing better than he was a year ago at that time,” Kiffin said.

Daniels, in a come-from-behind blowout of Ole Miss last season, accounted for five touchdowns. He passed for 258 yards and ran for 121.

Kiffin continued, “Early on, he actually throws one where our safety is there that I think could’ve changed the game. We don’t find the ball and he throws a touchdown and gets hot. Gets really hot. Completes a lot of passes (and is) hard to bring down. Need a really good game plan, and we’re gonna need to play really well.”