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Former LSU Tigers Stars Harold Perkins, Mansoor Delane Off To Great Starts in NFL
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- Former LSU Tigers Stars Harold Perkins, Mansoor Delane Off To Great Starts in NFL
(Stephen Lew-Imagn Images)
Even though they had a down year last season, the LSU Tigers still ended up with seven players taken in the NFL draft. After all seven made their teams, a couple of them have already been off to great starts with their new squads .
Through four weeks, only a couple of those drafted players have been able to carve out real roles with their teams outside of special teams. That is to be expected, though, with only one Day 1 pick. Here are the two Tigers who have had the best starts:
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Kansas City Chiefs CB Mansoor Delane
This should come as no surprise to anyone who watched Delane play last year for LSU, but he was ready to compete from the moment he stepped onto an NFL field. His first interception came just a few snaps into his career, but so did his first injury. He missed the second game, but he has played in the last two and looks good.
Delane ended up with an interception in that first game and has ended up with at least one pass defensed in each game so far.
The only reason that Delane didn't end up with more counting stats in college is that teams just ended up avoiding him. NFL quarterbacks are going to test him, at least for now.
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The 22-year-old isn't all coverage, either. He's a sure and active tackler who isn't afraid to get involved in the run game. He is already up to 20 tackles this year despite the early injury. There is a reason he was the sixth overall pick, and is living up to the hype so far.
Atlanta Falcons LB Harold Perkins
Monday night saw the realization of a nightmare many Louisiana football fans have had since the draft. Perkins had a vintage performance en route to the Falcons beating up on the New Orleans Saints .
Perkins had been solid in a bit of playing time before this game, but he had a breakout against the Saints. In that game, he had 10 tackles, half a sack and a pass broken up.
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Perkins fell to the sixth round due to many worrying that his "tweener" play style wouldn't translate. So far, he certainly looks like he belongs in the NFL. It's early, but tackling hasn't been an issue, and he has the athleticism to hold up in coverage. Atlanta might have gotten themselves a steal.
