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Walter Camp Foundation Names Perich a Player to Watch
8/4/2025 11:03:00 AM | Football
Minnesota's sophomore is the only two-way player on the watch list
Minnesota defensive back Koi Perich was named a player to watch by The Walter Camp Football Foundation for its 2025 Player of the Year award. The foundation listed 45 players and Perich is the only one who plays both offense and defense.
This is the fourth preseason watch list that Perich is on, as he has also been named to watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award and the Paul Hornung Award.
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 fourth preseason watch list that Perich is on, as he has also been named to watch lists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award and the Paul Hornung Award.
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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