Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 41-38vs Louisville | 6 | 1 | 1.5 | 0.5 | — | 0 | Season-high 6 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 41-9vs Charlotte | 4 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 10 | 5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | — | 0 |
#4
Suntarine Perkins
Senior linebacker for Ole Miss. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 220 lb · Raleigh, MS · Raleigh
CFB Index 89 · #18 of 583 LBsHigh confidenceReturning to Ole Miss for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
10
tackles · 2026
1.5 TFL · 0.5 sacks
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 6 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, vs Louisville
Statement game11 tackles · 5 TFL · 4 sacksvs Oklahoma (FBS) · W 26-14
Top 0.1% tackles for loss game since 2021.
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for Ole Miss. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 5-star recruit to Ole Miss in 2023.
Suntarine Perkins
Carries tight ends down the field in coverage. Four seasons at Ole Miss, two different head coaches: Lane Kiffin and Pete Golding. The receipt on tape: 6 tackles, 1.5 TFL against Louisville, Week 1, 2026.
10 TACKLES · 0.5 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 4 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
202311 games
- Signed with Ole Miss5-star out of Raleigh
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★★★
CFB
College
Ole Miss
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
2 coaches2023–2025
Ole Miss
2026era →
Pete Golding
Ole Miss
Coaching transition mid-career: Lane Kiffin → Pete Golding. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2023Ole Miss11-2HC: Lane Kiffin · Run-leaning
2024Ole Miss10-3HC: Lane Kiffin · Balanced
2025Ole Miss13-2HC: Lane Kiffin · Balanced
2026Ole Miss2-0HC: Pete Golding · Balanced
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
High confidence
Elite: qb hurries (96th percentile). Concern: tackles (10th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 5.0 TKL/g, 0.8 TFL/g, 0.2 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Pete Golding
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Starter
Tackle volume for the position at a full-time starter's level.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
89 · #18 of 583 LBs
Former five-star. Now #18 at the position.
2026 outlook
In the mix for All-SEC
Based on 2025: #3 of 76 SEC LBs
How the All-SEC estimate is computed
49% estimated, 95% confidence interval 43–54%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 41–38
vs Louisville
6 TOT · 1 SOLO · 0 SACKS
Edged out Louisville at home in a shootout.
With T. Chambliss — 336 yds · 3 TD · 1 INT · QBR 82.7 · 60 rush yds (9 car) · 1 TD · D. Alexander — 5 rec · 159 yds · 2 TD
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Ole Miss
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Ole Miss
Returning around him
- 2 Ole Miss players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +1 net (28 in / 27 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Ole Miss · Last season: 13-2 (AP #6) · Talent rank #14 · 2026 recruiting class #22
DNA match
Player DNA
Coverage 'Backer
Carries tight ends and patrols the middle of the field in coverage.
LB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Deshawn Pace’s 2023 season.
70%match
Matches Deshawn on
TFL rate
Weight
Differs from Deshawn on
Hurry rate (higher)
Sack rate (higher)
Height (lower)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Owen Heinecke's junior season at Oklahoma (2025).
72%match
All-SEC
Matches Owen on
Sack rate
Tackle volume
Solo tackle rate
Differs from Owen on
Hurry rate (higher)
Player DNA
Players who play like Suntarine Perkins
Background
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS • 2026 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List • 2026 Chucky Mullins Courage Award Winner • 2026 Preseason All-America Third Team (Athlon, Phil Steele) • 2026 Preseason All-SEC Second Team (Coaches, Media, Athlon) • 2026 Preseason All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele) • 2026 Senior Bowl To...
The linebacker corps · Ole Miss
- #11Keaton Thomas99 tackles · 2025
- #12Luke Ferrelli91 tackles · 2025
- #4Suntarine Perkins81 tackles · 2025
- #49Tah'j Butler34 tackles · 2025
- #44Tony Mitchell25 tackles · 2025
8 more on the roster · Ole Miss team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology