'Who's MJ?': Tigers' star freshman has his own 'Jordan flu game'

Freshman linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. had himself a historical time successful the No. 7 LSU Tigers' 13-10 win implicit the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Perkins, a erstwhile five-star recruit, had 8 tackles, 4 sacks and 2 forced fumbles connected Saturday. He sealed the triumph erstwhile helium stripped Arkansas backmost Cade Fortin and the fumble was recovered by LSU's Mekhi Wingo.

What made the show much awesome was that Perkins did it each portion sick with the flu.

"He got sick earlier the game," LSU manager Brian Kelly said aft the game. "He threw up arsenic we were going into our squad meeting."

Kelly invoked the "Jordan Flu Game" erstwhile helium spoke to Perkins this morning. In Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, Michael Jordan, portion sick and dehydrated, scored 38 points successful 44 minutes to springiness the Chicago Bulls a 3-2 bid pb against the Utah Jazz en way to Chicago's 5th NBA title.

"I said, 'Hey, you know, MJ threw up erstwhile helium had his top game,'" Kelly said.

"[Perkins] said, 'Who's MJ?'"

While helium mightiness not cognize of His Airness, Perkins enactment himself successful elite institution with his crippled against the Razorbacks.

The Mayor of Fayetteville pic.twitter.com/qnpOqR85ti

#40

Not overmuch other to accidental astir Harold Perkins. His show was 1 of the champion I've seen by a freshman. He willed this squad to triumph today. pic.twitter.com/Q5GI0JtdaD

He tied LSU's grounds for sacks successful a crippled with Chuck Wiley who had 4 sacks successful a crippled successful 1995. According to ESPN Stats and Information, nary LSU subordinate has had 3 sacks and a forced fumble successful a crippled since astatine slightest 2004.

With 4 sacks and 2 forced fumbles, Perkins is conscionable the 4th FBS subordinate ever to person that stat enactment and the archetypal to bash it successful a Power 5 crippled since Chase Young did it with the Ohio State Buckeyes successful 2019. Young's show came successful his All-American inferior play earlier becoming the No. 2 wide draught prime successful the 2020 NFL draft.

Another reminder that Perkins is conscionable a freshman.