Suntarine Perkins, LB, Mississippi, 2027 NFL Draft Prospect Profile & Scouting Report
Suntarine Perkins, LB, Ole Miss
1. General Information
|
Name |
Suntarine Perkins |
|
Position |
Linebacker (LB) |
|
Number |
4 |
|
Class |
Senior |
|
School |
Ole Miss |
|
Height / Weight |
6’2″ / 220 lbs |
|
Hometown / HS |
Raleigh, Miss. / Raleigh HS |
2. Career Statistical Breakdown
Defensive Performance & Pass Rush Production
|
**Season** |
**Team** |
**G** |
**Tackles** |
**TFL** |
**Sacks** |
**INT / PD** |
|
2023 |
Ole Miss |
13 |
38 |
5.5 |
3.5 |
0 / 1 |
|
2024 |
Ole Miss |
13 |
60 |
14.0 |
10.5 |
1 / 0 |
|
2025 |
Ole Miss |
15 |
81 |
12.5 |
4.5 |
1 / 6 |
|
**Total** |
41 |
179 |
32 |
18.5 |
2 / 7 |
3. NFL Combine Testing Projections
Projected metrics for the 2027 NFL Draft cycle based on elite five-star athletic pedigree, short-area lateral flexibility, and outstanding pursuit traits.
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.48 – 4.58s
- Vertical Jump: 36.5″ – 38.5″
- Broad Jump: 10’2″ – 10’6″
- 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.15 – 4.28s
- 3-Cone Drill: 6.90 – 7.06s
4. Scouting & Transfer Notes
Background Profile
Perkins arrived in Oxford carrying immense blue-chip expectations as a consensus five-star recruit and the marquee signee of the Lane Kiffin era out of Raleigh High School. A dominant, legendary multi-phase prep star, he generated over 5,000 all-purpose yards and was the crown jewel of the state of Mississippi. He transitioned instantly, leading all Rebels freshmen with 38 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 2023.
Perkins erupted into a national superstar during his true sophomore campaign in 2024. Anchoring a national-leading defensive front, he registered 60 tackles, a team-high 14.0 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks—positioning himself as one of college football’s premier backend edge rushers.
Despite battling minor midseason physical limitations that limited his sack numbers in 2025, Perkins adapted by moving inside more frequently, stacking up a career-high 81 tackles and 12.5 tackles for loss to anchor a College Football Playoff run. Bypassing early draft declaration windows, Perkins enters his senior campaign in 2026 universally established as a tier-one, defensive weapon for the 2027 NFL Draft cycle.
Key Strengths
- Elite Explosive Pass-Rush Arsenal: Features a lightning-fast, high-end first step out of his stance; his rare flexibility and bend allowed him to register an elite 10.5 sacks out of the box in 2024.
- Sideline-to-Sideline Range: Track-validated linear velocity enables him to flow smoothly past boundary structures and track down perimeter ball-carriers with ease.
- Premium Blue-Chip Pedigree: Possesses high-end natural spatial instincts sharpened over a hyper-productive multi-year SEC starting role.
- Versatile Defensive Toolset: Demonstrates high-utility flexibility, effectively dropping into modern off-ball linebacker space or matching blockers head-on from wider EDGE configurations.
Developmental Focus
Because Perkins plays at a leaner, hyper-athletic 220 pounds, professional personnel directors will closely monitor how his frame anchors against high-mass offensive linemen’s climb blocks over the course of a full game. When isolated against interior SEC power sets, he must continue adding functional core upper-body mass to effectively drop his anchor. Refined stack-and-shed hand mechanics when processing inside-zone structures will solidify his projection as an ultimate, lock early-round hybrid defender at the professional level.
Draft Countdown Film Notes
*pending*
All-Star Game Notes
*pending*
Combine/Pro Day Measurables
*pending*