New suitor for Perkins

Since recently taking over the head coach position at Illinois, Tim Beckman has made South Bend (Ind.) Washington Top247 linebacker/running back David Perkins one of his top recruits.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Perkins is feeling the love, and tells 247Sports he plans to take an official visit to Champaign the weekend of Jan. 20 or Jan. 27.

“Coach Beckman hit me up and told me he wanted me to come in and be the face of the program,” Perkins said. “He said they want me at running back initially, but I could play whatever I want to play. He’s been talking to me often and expressing a high interest in me.”

Other programs Perkins has a high interest in includes Missouri, who he took an official visit to see the weekend of Dec. 9, as well as Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oregon, Tennessee and LSU. The only other official Perkins has set in stone is a trip to Columbus the weekend of Jan. 13.

Ranked as the nation’s No. 27 outside linebacker and No. 236 prospect overall, Perkins plans to take all five official visits before making a final decision.

As a senior, Perkins earned First-Team All-State as a running back, but was also a standout defensively. He finished with 191 carries for 1,311 yards and 15 touchdowns, and also caught another 19 passes for 275 yards and three scores. On the other side of the ball, Perkins racked up 103 tackles including 24 stops for loss and seven sacks. He also forced eight fumbles, recovered five and intercepted two passes.

Perkins helped lead Washington to the 4-A state championship game this season, and had eight tackles, with three coming for loss, a sack and a forced fumble in the loss to Indianapolis (Ind.) Cathedral.

Perkins originally committed to Notre Dame before the season, but reopened the process on Nov. 1. The Irish are no longer an option.