Ole Miss LB Suntarine Perkins Talks DC Pete Golding, Development in Spring

Ole Miss Rebels linebacker Suntarine Perkins has been the apple of Pete Golding's eye ever since the assistant was coaching for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Sep 2, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels linebacker Suntarine Perkins (4) reacts / Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss Rebels linebacker Suntarine Perkins has a special relationship with his defensive coordinator, Pete Golding.

Ahead of early signing day for the 2023 class, Ole Miss and Alabama were locked in a neck-and-neck battle for the No. 1 recruit coming out of the state of Mississippi. Keeping the No. 1 talent in the state home was the top priority for Lane Kiffin and Co., but Golding was trying to get Perkins to come to T-Town while he was still with the Tide. Perkins eventually settled on the Rebels, and Golding also ended up taking an extended vacation in Oxford following the 2023 season.

The Raleigh, Miss., native was available after spring practice on Thursday to speak with the local media and brought up his relationship with Golding.

“Coach Pete Golding is a great guy,” Perkins told reporters. “Very smart guy. I’m just glad he chose to come here and that I can be a part of his defense.”

READ MORE: How Tre Harris, Jaxson Dart Recruited the Transfer Portal for the Ole Miss Rebels

As a true freshman in 2023, Perkins recorded 38 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss, and one pass breakup - earning Freshman All-SEC and Freshman All-American honors. Ironically, his best game came against Alabama early in the regular season where he notched two sacks. Perkins talked about what it was like adjusting to the speed of the Southeastern Conference right out of high school.

"Coming in from high school, everything was just fast," Perkins said. "It was hard coming in. When I first came in, they tried putting me at middle linebacker and "Jack" too, so I was learning both positions at the same time. Coach [Golding] and I had a talk, sat down, and he asked me if I could play "Jack" and I said yes sir, no problem with that.

"I was just getting more comfortable with the defensive scheme. Everything just came in place. Just happened," Perkins said. "Everything was just fast. You have to learn the playbook on your own. There's a lot of details, reading keys. I was just studying every night and it all came into place.”

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound linebacker also revealed what his personal goals are for the remainder of the offseason.

“I’m trying to get to about 220 [pounds], 215 before the season starts,” Perkins said. “I’m really just trying to eat anything to gain weight. We talk every day about how I can gain weight. So far, it’s going good. A lot of greens and cornbread.”

Greens, cornbread, and more development from Golding have Perkins primed for a breakout campaign in 2024.