A few LSU Tigers football players were placed on a couple of preseason teams.
Offensive tackle Will Campbell and linebacker Harold Perkins were named to ESPN.com’s first-team preseason All-America while tackle Emery Jones made it on the preseason second team. The announcements were made by the website on Wednesday.
All three players are in their junior seasons and are also headed into their third year of being starters for LSU. A program that has eclipsed 10 wins in the last two seasons.
Campbell and Jones make up the nation’s top offensive tackle tandem, while the Tiger offensive line is considered to be among the best in the nation. LSU returns four starters from last year’s squad that was one of three finalists for the Joe Moore Award (Nation’s Top Offensive Line).
This is the third first-team preseason honor for Campbell, who has also been tabbed by both Walter Camp and Sporting News on their All-America squads heading into 2024. Perkins has been named second-team preseason All-America by Walter Camp and Sporting News.
Campbell will enter the 2024 season with 26 career starts at left tackle and helped pave the way for one of the most prolific offenses in college football history last year.
Of Campbell, ESPN.com said, “He’s a polished pass protector and didn’t allow a sack last season in 491 pass-blocking situations, according to Pro Football Focus. Campbell’s power and strength also make him an excellent run blocker.”
Perkins has built a reputation of being a game-wrecker on defense, tallying 26 tackles for loss and 13 sacks in his first two years at LSU.
ESPN.com said of Perkins, “After considerable debate about where he should play, he will return to inside linebacker while also moving outside and rushing the passer on third down. The 6-1, 225-pound junior had 7.5 sacks as a true freshman in an edge rusher role. He moved inside as a sophomore, and while his sack numbers dipped somewhat, he matched his freshman total with 13 tackles for loss. Wherever Perkins lines up, quarterbacks have to be wary of him.”
LSU is one of only four teams with at least two players named first-team preseason All-America by ESPN.com. They are joined by Georgia (3 on first-team), Michigan (3), and Alabama (3).