Ole Miss LB Suntarine Perkins Named to Bednarik Award Watch List
OXFORD, Miss. — As the Rebels are just over two weeks through fall camp, having held their first scrimmage on Saturday, linebacker Suntarine Perkins has been named to the Bednarik Award Watch List.
Suntarine Perkins ➡️ Bednarik Award Watch List 🦈#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/jgsh3mn33w
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) August 11, 2025
The Bednarik Award is an annual award given to the best defensive player in college football, and Perkins is one of 23 other SEC players selected to the watch list, all of whom are part of the 90 total players selected.
Perkins by the numbers
Perkins, who is entering his junior year, played a significant role in the Rebels’ defense last year, a role that will only increase for the 2025 season. As a sophomore last season, he recorded 60 total tackles, 32 of them solo, 14 for a loss, 10.5 sacks, and an interception.
As a freshman, he recorded 38 tackles, 18 solo, a pass deflection, and three and a half sacks.
His efforts last season helped contribute to the team recording 52 sacks and 120 tackles for a loss, both of which are program records. His 10.5 sacks last season also ranked second all-time in sacks in a single season for Ole Miss.
Perkins, along with the rest of the talented defense, could make waves in the 2025 season. The hope is that he’ll be able to improve on already impressive performances, like a four-sack game against Oklahoma last season.
He is already meeting expectations that were placed on him coming out of high school, given he was ranked as the No. 1 linebacker in the class of 2023.
Defensive coordinator Pete Golding is building a defense that has been getting talked up by head coach Lane Kiffin and others as fall camp progresses. Perkins is just one of many in a quite talented linebacker room that includes Chucky Mullins Courage Award winner Tyler Banks, TJ Dottery, and Tahj Chambers, among others.
Next Up
It will be interesting to see how the Ole Miss defense will perform come the regular season, specifically Perkins, as he attempts to contend with the best and acquire the Bednarik Award. Rebels fans can catch Perkins in action in Week 1 against Georgia State in Vaught-Hemingway. Kick-off is set for Aug. 30 at 6:45 PM CT on the SEC Network.
Noah Scoggins
Noah is from Killeen, Texas, and graduated from Early College High School. He grew up in the Birmingham, Alabama, area and is now a second-year senior at the University of Alabama and will graduate in the spring. He is currently majoring in news media with a focus in sports media, as well as a minor in criminal justice. Noah has always loved and been passionate about college athletics and wants to share his love for sports.
