Homegrown Ole Miss linebacker Suntarine Perkins has been named this year’s Chucky Mullins Courage Award recipient.
Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding unveiled the award’s honoree Saturday, with Perkins getting the nod to represent a cause that supersedes what happens on the field. Perkins is the 36th representative in the award’s 37-year history. He will carry the torch handed to him by former teammate Tyler Banks. Before Banks, former standout Ole Miss defensive tackle and Oxford native JJ Pegues was the award’s recipient.
The award is named in honor of the late Chucky Mullins, who had his Ole Miss career come to an end during a 1989 Homecoming game against Vanderbilt when he was paralyzed after tackling Commodore tight end Brad Gaines. After returning to his studies at Ole Miss, Mullins passed away on May 6, 1991. As the Chucky Mullins Courage Award ambassador, Perkins will have the option to wear a No. 38 jersey, the number Mullins wore during his playing days. He could also keep the No. 4 jersey he’s worn since joining the Ole Miss football program in 2023 and don a No. 38 patch.
Your 2026 Chucky Mullins Award Winner Suntarine Perkins! pic.twitter.com/6seMlHoLPI
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) August 8, 2026
Perkins, a native of Raleigh, has been with the Rebels since his freshman season and has been a stalwart of Golding’s defense each year. The speedy and versatile linebacker elected to return to Ole Miss for his senior year, rather than entertaining the NFL Draft or transferring to another school. He even chose to remain in Oxford under Golding’s guidance as a head coach following the unprecedented departure of former frontman Lane Kiffin, who now leads LSU’s football program.
Perkins comes off a 2025 season in which he finished second on the team in total tackles with 81. 12.5 of those resulted in a loss of yardage. He also had 4.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, a pair of fumble recoveries, six pass breakups, and an interception. His efforts played an integral role in Ole Miss making the College Football Playoff for the first time ever, and advancing to the semifinals.
“Home is home,” Perkins told SuperTalk Mississippi News on Thursday when speaking on the honor it’s been for him to compete at Ole Miss. “It’s amazing how far Ole Miss has come. And I feel like it’s going to continue to get better.”
The Rebels will kick off a highly-anticipated 2026-27 campaign versus Louisville in Nashville’s Nissan Stadium on Sept. 6.
