Star Ole Miss defender Suntarine ‘Get’ Perkins expanding his game in his money year

Suntarine Perkins, a preseason All-American, is expanding his game as a true junior.

Perkins is a former 5-star Plus+ recruit. He played in every game (13) for Ole Miss last season, including eight starts, all at defensive end. He helped anchor the best rush defense in the nation and one of the best defenses in program history.Ole Miss star defender Suntarine Perkins, a preseason All-American, is expanding his game as a true junior.

The Rebels set new school records for tackles for loss (120) and sacks (52). Ole Miss led the nation — and Perkins tied for the team lead — in both categories. He had 10.5 sacks and 14 TFLs. 

Perkins was fourth in total tackles (60) and added nine quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries and an interception.

“I love Get’s energy, his attitude, his body language,” Ole Miss third-year defensive coordinator Pete Golding said after practice on Thursday. “He’s a Will ‘backer by stature. 

“That was the one thing from the recruitment standpoint of, ‘Hey, we’re going to get you on the field where we can get you on the field the fastest. That might not be exactly what you’re playing at the next level. We’ll have some packages once we get you to that point and you’re comfortable at your primary position to be able to move you more around.’”

The time is now.

Ole Miss is nearing the end of its third full week of fall camp. The Rebels open the 2025-26 season against Georgia State on August 30.

Ole Miss has been dropping Perkins back into coverage in certain packages, in addition to his duties rushing the passer opposite LSU transfer Dashawn Womack.

Perkins has already received a first-round NFL Draft projection from CBS Sports. 

He’ll anchor an overhauled Ole Miss defense. 

The Rebels lost, among others, leading tackler Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul, shutdown cornerback Trey Amos, defensive tackles Walter Nolen and JJ Pegues and defensive ends Princely Umanmielen and Jared Ivey. 

Ole Miss runs a base 4-2-5 defense.

“There’s going to be some flexibility to moving him around in certain packages,” Golding said. “We’ve got some 4-3 packages and things like that to move him around and put him in space. He’s going to have some film being a Will ‘backer. He’s apex. He stacks, he comes from multiple different spots.

“So, his versatility on tape to get him drafted to his highest point is still going to be there regardless of where we put him at. He’s an elite player where he is. He’s much more heavier-handed than people think he is based on his size. This is definitely not a, ‘Hey, we’re moving him’ from what you’ve seen and what you’re used to. But obviously we’ve got the flexibility now to move him more than we ever have just because of his understanding of the base primary position. 

“He’s got an elite skillset to be able to do that. He’ll be in multiple spots.”

RELATED: Golding says ‘legacy’ of last year’s defense is over. This group ‘hasn’t done anything, yet’

Perkins missed all of spring practices as he recovered from labrum surgery. 

He hasn’t been limited at all in fall camp. Perkins has received preseason All-SEC recognition from On3, Phil Steele, Athlon and Walter Camp, among others. 

Golding doesn’t expect much, if any, drop-off from last season’s historic defense, despite all the new. Ole Miss returns tenured linebacker TJ Dottery alongside Perkins, as well as veteran defensive tackles Zxavian Harris and Jamarious Brown. 

Dottery finished second only to Paul in tackles. Ole Miss is high on its second-year crop of defensive linemen: Kam Franklin, William Echoles and others. The Rebels signed a pair of Top 10 EDGE transfers in Womack and Princewill Umanmielen (Nebraska). 

They also portaled defensive backs Sage Ryan (LSU), Jaylon Braxton (Arkansas), Antonio Kite (Auburn), Kapena Gushiken (Washington State), Ricky Fletcher (South Alabama) and Tavoy Feagin (Clemson).

“From a front standpoint I don’t think we’re going to take a step back from last year,” Golding said. “It’s going to be some different names. But, obviously, the big thing on those guys, they’ve been in the system, and I think we’re going to have some guys that y’all know their name already, were big-time recruits, they’re going to have to have big years for us. They’ve been practicing really well.”