It’s no surprise that Suntarine Perkins is expected to be a cornerstone of the Ole Miss defense in 2025. The junior hybrid edge rusher and linebacker is poised for a breakout season this fall.
Perkins is already gaining national attention, as he’s collecting preseason accolades and All-American recognition. Athlon Sports recently released its preseason All-American teams in its summer preview magazine, naming Perkins a Second Team selection at linebacker.
He shares Second Team linebacker honors with Ohio State’s Sonny Styles, Georgia’s CJ Allen, and Kansas State’s Austin Romaine. The First Team includes Anthony Hill Jr. (Texas), Whit Weeks (LSU), Kyle Louis (Pittsburgh), and Taurean York (Texas A\&M).
Perkins and T.J. Dottery are the only two returning starters from last year’s Ole Miss defense. In his sophomore year, Perkins played over 200 snaps and tied with Princely Umanmielen for a team-high 10.5 sacks. He also racked up 60 tackles, trailing only Dottery’s 76 among returning players.
While he’s officially listed as a linebacker on the Ole Miss summer roster, defensive coordinator Pete Golding is expected to continue using Perkins as a versatile weapon, especially as a pass-rushing force off the edge.
Perkins’ draft stock is already rising ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, with both CBS Sports and ESPN projecting him as a potential first-round pick. The Raleigh, Mississippi native is coming off labrum surgery that kept him out of spring practices, but sources indicate he’s fully participating in summer workouts.
Ole Miss will kick off its 2025 season against Georgia State on August 30 at 6:45 p.m. CT, airing on SEC Network.