Ole Miss commit Suntarine Perkins shines in All-Star Game, named MS MVP and MaxPreps Player of Year for the state
OXFORD, Miss. — Just when you thought Suntarine Perkins, the No. 1 recruit in the state of Mississippi, couldn’t be any more amazing, he outdoes himself yet again — this time in the Mississippi-Alabama All Star Game
After he rallied his Raleigh team to a 55-52 win over Noxubee December 2 to clinch the 3A state title, Perkins followed that up with another outstanding performance, this time in the prestigious dual-state all-star game this past weekend.
Perkins was named Mississippi MVP after a performance including 10 tackles — nine of them solo — and three of them coming for a loss.
Let’s take a look at this outstanding athlete who has reaffirmed his commitment to Ole Miss.
The Run to the State Title
Perkins was dominating in his final game for Raleigh. He closed out his high school career for the Lions with 337 rushing yards on 32 carries, four touchdowns, four two-point conversions, six tackles and of course an interception.
As one sees from those statistics in the state title game, the 6-foot-3, 200-pounder can do it all.
Perkins finished his senior season with 2,081 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns. He also was a staple on the 14-1 Lions’ defense where he notched 92 tackles, 5 sacks, 4 interceptions, 4 fumble recoveries.
Mr. 3A Football Suntarine Perkins had quite the day doing it all on 32 carries for 331 yards and 4 TDs. Perkins also added an interception and 56 yards receiving being named the 3A Champion MVP. @suntarine @Raleigh_Lions pic.twitter.com/EbPN6mR9Is
— AustinL (@austinyuknow) December 2, 2022
Mississippi-Alabama All Star Game
After his state championship performance, Suntarine didn’t slow down.
He and other players in the Magnolia and Yellowhammer states showed out in the 36th annual MS-AL All-Star game in Mobile this past Saturday.
Fans, coaches and more flocked to South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium, and they saw quite a show.
Soon after his arrival, Perkins quickly became the talk of the Mobile, making waves all week leading up to a stellar performance where he was amongst some good company in fellow ‘23 Ole Miss commits Jamarious Brown and Ayden Williams.
Sip boyz 🔴🔵 M’s up for Mississippi @aydenwilliams74 @OfficialJB16 pic.twitter.com/8qvUPQS0x3
— suntarine perkins (@suntarine) December 10, 2022
Let’s let the clips do the talking:
Been very impressed with 4-Star ATH Suntarine Perkins @suntarine movement in coverage as a LB.
Linebackers who are able to cover in space are valuable in today’s game. pic.twitter.com/OcumqKvbQr
— Justin Smith (@Jdsmith31Smith) December 7, 2022
.@suntarine with the tackle he has been everywhere for the MS defense in the first half @CoachMoCrum @_kbolden @OleMissFB pic.twitter.com/VntYaBJgMN
— Talking Ball Y’all Picayune Podcast (@SlickandDave) December 10, 2022
.@suntarine all over the field early on pic.twitter.com/a4PNXxvjXS
— Talking Ball Y’all Picayune Podcast (@SlickandDave) December 10, 2022
There was plenty of that all game long, and Ole Miss fans can expect much more in the not-so-distant future, one that remains bright because of the in-state talent of Suntarine Perkins!
MaxPreps Mississippi Player of the Year
This past week, Perkins continued to catch the eyes of those around the country as he added the distinction of being named MaxPreps Mississippi Player of the Year to his already impressive resume.
The four-star Perkins is currently ranked the nation’s No. 86 overall national player, the No.3 linebacker out of the ‘23 recruiting cycle, and the No.1 player in the state.
Perkins has been loyal to Ole Miss, having verbally committed to the Rebels when he was a sophomore. He has remained a constant for other future Rebel prospects on the recruiting trail.
Congrats to Raleigh's @suntarine on being named the MaxPreps Mississippi Player of the Year.
The 2023 Ole Miss commit led the Lions to their first state title and rushed for 2,000+ & 32 TDs to go with 92 tackles, five sacks and four INTs on defense.
✍️: https://t.co/rGKnd7f4Jo pic.twitter.com/G1itosHOb7
— Zack Poff (@Zack_Poff_MP) December 7, 2022
Official Visit to Ole Miss
After the MS-AL All-Star game was over, Perkins hit the road from Mobile and made his way to Oxford for his official visit with the Rebs. While there was some chatter on the recruiting trail about Alabama, Perkins remains committed to the Rebels, making his intentions clear this Sunday.
@Lane_Kiffin pic.twitter.com/fT6lDjMjYd
— suntarine perkins (@suntarine) December 12, 2022
Suntarine will be an instant asset to the Rebels. One could certainly make an easy case as to why his fifth recruiting star should be forthcoming after his performance the past two weeks.
Congratulation, Suntarine!
Lee Ann Herring-Olvedo
Lee Ann serves as the Director of Recruiting for The Rebel Walk. She sees college football the way championship programs do—from inside the personnel room. Every evaluation, every roster move, every recruiting battle tells a bigger story about identity, culture, and how a program is built to win in December, not just July.
With more than 15 years covering the SEC and the national recruiting landscape, Herring-Olvedo has built a reputation as one of the sport’s most respected personnel-driven voices—blending film evaluation, roster construction, and long-term program vision through a true front-office lens. Her coverage of powerhouse brands like Ole Miss Rebels and Kentucky Wildcatshas consistently gone beyond headlines, focusing instead on the blueprint behind winning programs: development, fit, culture, and recruiting strategy.
That foundation was formed early at Brown University, where she worked in player personnel and recruiting while competing as a student-athlete. Inside those recruiting operations rooms, she learned how elite organizations are truly built—through relentless evaluation, relationship building, projection, and trust in the board. Those experiences shaped the way she studies the game today: part scout, part storyteller, part architect.
Her analysis and reporting have appeared across major platforms including ESPN, NFL coverage spaces, USA Today Sports, and Saturday Down South. She also brought her personnel-minded approach to the airwaves as an on-air analyst for the Wake Up 502 College Football Show on Big X Sports Radio 96.1, where she became known for combining film-room detail with a wider understanding of roster identity and program trajectory.
In 2025, covering the rise of Houston Cougars football under Willie Fritz reignited the part of the sport that first drew her into football—the culture, the edge, the belief that a roster can reshape an entire city. That inspiration led to the launch of Coogs 365 Sports, a platform built to cover Houston athletics through a true scouting and recruiting lens while connecting the emotion of the game to the heartbeat of H-Town.
Now, Herring-Olvedo returns to The Rebel Walk where with an even deeper perspective shaped by years inside recruiting circles, national SEC coverage, and hands-on evaluation experience. Her return brings a familiar voice back to Ole Miss coverage—but with an evolved lens rooted in roster architecture, player development, and the modern realities of building championship-caliber football in the NIL and portal era.
For Herring-Olvedo, recruiting has never been about stars beside a name. It is about identifying competitors, projecting growth, and building a locker room capable of sustaining success. Her philosophy mirrors the best front offices in football: stack traits, trust culture, and never stop building.
