Suntarine Perkins
Suntarine Perkins  LB  Ole Miss | NFL Draft 2026 Souting Report - Portrait Image
Suntarine Perkins
Height
6-1
Weight
210
College
Ole Miss
Position
LB/EDGE
Class
Sophomore
Home town
Raleigh, MS
85.5/100
Player Rating
5
PositionRank (LB)
4.58
FortyYD Time
Sacks
10.5
Fumbles Forced
Tackles
60
Sol tackles
32

Suntarine Perkins LB/EDGE Ole Miss | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Suntarine Perkins LB/EDGE Ole Miss
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

PLAY STYLE: EDGE OLB
Last Updated: 05/19/2025
Draft Year: 2026
40 time: 4.58 seconds (83%*)
Age: 21.6 DOB: 11/17/2003
Measurables:
Height: 6-1 (35%*) Weight: 210 (1%*)
Forty: 4.58 (O) (83%*)
0% 100%
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other (HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
PLAY STYLE: EDGE OLB
Last Updated: 05/19/2025
Draft Year: 2026
40 time: 4.58 seconds (83%*)
Age: 21.6 DOB: 11/17/2003
Measurables:
0% 100%
Height: 6-1 (35%*) Weight: 210 (1%*)
Forty: 4.58 (O) (83%*)
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other
(HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
Overall Rating: 85.5 / 100
Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced
Offense Rating:
80%
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects.
Tackling:
73%
Pass Rush:
69%
Run Defense:
64%
Coverage:
80%
DRAFT PROJECTION: 2nd - Late
Overall Rank: #67 Position rank: #5
College Games: 26 College Snaps: 941
Grade: 5 ESPN  Stars 5 ESPN  Stars ESPN RATING: 90/100
Grade: 247 Sports 5  Stars 247 Sports 98 Stars 247 RATING: 98/100
Grade: 5 Stars 5 Stars RIVALS RATING: 6.1 (100%)
Player Comparison* (Similarity level)
Nick Hampton - Appalachian State
60%
Marte Mapu - Sacramento State
58%
Oluwafemi Oladejo - UCLA
53%
Draft Profile: Bio
Suntarine Perkins, a five-star recruit who dominated as a two-way player in high school, he became a Mississippi legend when he rushed for 337 yards and four touchdowns while adding six tackles and an interception in the state championship game. The consensus top prospect in Mississippi chose Ole Miss over offers from virtually every college football powerhouse, and arrived in Oxford carrying massive expectations.

Perkins wasted no time making his mark as a freshman in 2023, earning Freshman All-American honors despite starting just two games. His breakout performance came against Alabama with 2.5 TFLs and 2.0 sacks against the Crimson Tide. But it was his sophomore campaign that truly announced his arrival as an elite defender, when he tied for the team lead with 14.0 TFLs and 10.5 sacks (second-most in Ole Miss single-season history) despite standing just 6'1" and weighing a lean 210 pounds. His performance against Oklahoma—11 tackles with 5.0 TFLs and 4.0 sacks—was the most dominant single-game pass rushing display by an Ole Miss defender in three decades.

After earning All-SEC third team and All-America Honorable Mention honors as a sophomore, Perkins entered his junior season as a preseason All-American despite undergoing shoulder surgery in early 2025. His disruptive presence helped anchor an Ole Miss defense that set school records for sacks (52) and tackles for loss (120) in 2024, both leading the nation. Perkins has consistently improved each season, developing from a raw athlete into a refined defensive playmaker whose versatility and explosiveness have NFL scouts buzzing despite his undersized frame.
Scouting Report: Strengths
  • Possesses freakish closing burst that turns potential scrambles into negative plays—shows rare ability to close space in a blink when quarterbacks try to escape the pocket.
  • Natural bend and flexibility around the edge lets him dip his shoulder and flatten to the QB at sharp angles that bigger rushers simply can't manage.
  • Runs angry as a blitzer through interior gaps, showing relentless motor and nasty finishing ability when he gets a clean run at the quarterback.
  • Changes direction with explosive lateral quickness—can plant his foot and redirect without gearing down, making him lethal on stunts and twists.
  • Coverage skills are significantly better than most edge defenders—former high school defensive back who can legitimately match up with tight ends in space.
  • Versatility is off the charts—can line up with his hand down, as an off-ball linebacker, or walked out in the slot depending on situation and matchup.
  • Shows genuine dog in him when playing bigger than his size—fearlessly takes on pulling guards and tackles without hesitation despite weight disadvantage.
  • Football I.Q. translates to consistently being in right spot—rarely gets fooled by misdirection and shows advanced understanding of blocking schemes.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
  • Ridiculously undersized for an NFL edge defender at just 210 pounds—will face questions about ability to hold up against pro-caliber offensive tackles.
  • Will get washed out against the run when directly engaged by offensive linemen—lacks anchor strength to consistently set the edge against power schemes.
  • Shoulder surgery prior to junior year raises durability concerns for a player who relies on explosive movements and physical tackles despite limited size.
  • Pass rush arsenal still developing—wins primarily with speed and bend but needs counters when initial move is stalled by technically sound tackles.
  • Occasionally overruns plays in pursuit, taking aggressive angles that create cutback lanes—needs to be more disciplined maintaining gap integrity.
Scouting Report: Summary
The elephant in the room is Perkins' miniscule 210-pound frame—built more like a safety than an edge defender. This severe physical limitation will get exposed when NFL tackles engulf him at the point of attack, particularly against power run schemes where he'll struggle to disengage. Yet what Perkins lacks in mass, he compensates for with explosive athleticism and positional versatility that could make him a defensive wild card in the right system. Third-down packages will be where Perkins earns his paycheck early, using his exceptional bend and closing burst to hunt quarterbacks while coordinators scheme ways to maximize his coverage skills. His high-end pass rush production (10.5 sacks as a sophomore) demonstrates genuine big-play ability, though questions persist about durability and whether his shoulder issues will become chronic when facing the weekly pounding from 320-pound tackles. Defenses utilizing multiple fronts can deploy him as a blitzing linebacker, standup rusher, or even in coverage—creating matchup advantages while hiding his inability to consistently set the edge. The boom-or-bust factor looms large with Perkins. His elite athletic traits and versatility suggest a defender who could become a game-wrecker if used creatively, but his extreme size deficiency creates a narrow path to success. Teams must decide if they're getting the next undersized pass rush specialist who overcomes physical limitations through technique and explosive traits, or a tweener who lacks a true position at the next level. The history of similarly-sized edge defenders finding sustained NFL success is limited, making Perkins one of the draft's more fascinating risk-reward propositions.

How other scouting services rate Suntarine Perkins (Overall Rank)

All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
55.2
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
5.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance. For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.

*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.