Ole Miss Football Linebacker Named to Lombardi Award Preseason Watch List

Lane Kiffin and Co. see their star defender earn more honors, named to Lombardi Award Watch List.

Sep 21, 2024; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels linebacker Suntarine Perkins (4) rushes during the first half against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

HOUSTON – Ole Miss football junior linebacker Suntarine Perkins has been named to the preseason watch list for the Lombardi Award, as announced by the Lombardi Award Committee this week.

Perkins is among 54 players nationally and one of 16 from the SEC to make the watch list for the Lombardi Award, which was established in 1970 in memory of legendary coach Vince Lombardi.

The award is presented annually to outstanding linemen who best epitomize his values of leadership, courage, performance and discipline on and off the field.

Furthermore, the watch list includes players who consistently show the values of strength, agility and football acumen in their respective positions.

Perkins – already a watch list member for the Chuck Bednarik Award and Bronko Nagurski Trophy, as well as a preseason All-American by Walter Camp (second-team), The Sporting News (second-team) and Phil Steele (fourth-team) – lit up the stat sheet for the powerful Rebel defense as a sophomore in 2024.

Sep 21, 2024; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels linebacker Suntarine Perkins (4) rushes during the first half against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Perkins helped contribute to team program records in sacks (52) and tackles for loss (120), which both led the nation, ranking fourth on the team with 60 tackles while tying for the team lead in both TFL (14.0) and sacks (10.5).

Those 10.5 sacks ranked tied for second in Ole Miss single-season history, and his 14.0 TFL ranked tied for 10th all-time.

His most notable game last fall came against Oklahoma, where he notched 4.0 sacks – the most by a Rebel defender in a single game since 1993. In two years as a Rebel, Perkins owns 98 total tackles, 19.5 TFL and 14.0 sacks across 26 games played and 10 starts.

The 2025 award dinner is scheduled for Dec. 10, with net proceeds from gala sponsorship and table sales dedicated to supporting cancer research.

Sep 14, 2024; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Mississippi Rebels linebacker Suntarine Perkins (4) during pregame activity against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Perkins Earns More Honors:

Perkins has also been named to the preseason watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, as announced by the Maxwell Football Club on Monday morning.

Perkins is among 90 total defenders nationally and one of 23 from the SEC to make the watch list for the Bednarik Award, which has been presented annually to the college defensive player of the year since 1995.

The award is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, a Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker and center who played his entire career with the Philadelphia Eagles.

More Ole Miss News:

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The Preseason Coaches Poll Ranking: Ole Miss Football Comes in at No. 15

What It Means: Ole Miss Football Beats Out Michigan Wolverines for Coveted Linebacker

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