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All Eyes on Perich, Dynamic Sophomore Named to Seventh Preseason Watch List
8/11/2025 11:03:00 AM | Football
Minnesota defensive back Koi Perich was named to the preseason watch list for the 2025 Chuck Bednarik Award. The award is presented annually to the Best Defensive Player in College Football.
This is the seventh preseason watch list that Perich is on, as he has also been named to watch lists for The Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award, Paul Hornung Award, Lott Trophy and The Jet Award. He has also been named a preseason All-American by numerous organizations.
Perich put himself in a spot to earn the preseason accolades thanks to a dynamic freshman season in the Maroon and Gold last year.
The Esko, Minn., native was named a Sporting News Second Team All-American to become the first Minnesota freshman to be named an All-American since 1972 when the NCAA allowed freshmen to play to college football. Perich was also placed on the 2024 Freshman All-America Team by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), earned a spot on the All-Big Ten First Team on defense and was All-Big Ten Second Team as a return specialist. He was also one of five national finalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
Perich played in all 13 games for Minnesota last season and excelled on defense and special teams and even played a few snaps on offense. He finished fifth on the team with 46 tackles and had 2.5 tackles for loss. Perich led the Big Ten with five interceptions, setting a Minnesota freshman record in the process, and broke up three passes with one forced fumble. On special teams, he returned 16 kickoffs for 314 yards and 20 punts for 188 yards.
Perich and Minnesota start the season on Aug. 28 when they host Buffalo at Huntington Bank Stadium.
This is the seventh preseason watch list that Perich is on, as he has also been named to watch lists for The Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award, Paul Hornung Award, Lott Trophy and The Jet Award. He has also been named a preseason All-American by numerous organizations.
Perich put himself in a spot to earn the preseason accolades thanks to a dynamic freshman season in the Maroon and Gold last year.
The Esko, Minn., native was named a Sporting News Second Team All-American to become the first Minnesota freshman to be named an All-American since 1972 when the NCAA allowed freshmen to play to college football. Perich was also placed on the 2024 Freshman All-America Team by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), earned a spot on the All-Big Ten First Team on defense and was All-Big Ten Second Team as a return specialist. He was also one of five national finalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
Perich played in all 13 games for Minnesota last season and excelled on defense and special teams and even played a few snaps on offense. He finished fifth on the team with 46 tackles and had 2.5 tackles for loss. Perich led the Big Ten with five interceptions, setting a Minnesota freshman record in the process, and broke up three passes with one forced fumble. On special teams, he returned 16 kickoffs for 314 yards and 20 punts for 188 yards.
Perich and Minnesota start the season on Aug. 28 when they host Buffalo at Huntington Bank Stadium.
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