Koi Perich

Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn

Photo by: Brad Rempel

Position:
DB
Ht./Wt.:
6-1 / 200
Hometown:
Esko, Minn.
High School:
Esko
Years in College / At Minnesota:
1 / 1
Remaining Eligibility Entering 2025 Season:
4 years
Class:
Freshman

PRONUNCIATION

HONORS:
Sporting News Second Team All-American (2024)
FWAA Freshman All-American (2024)
All-Big Ten First Team, Defensive Back (2024)
All-Big Ten Second Team, Return Specialist (2024, media)
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention, Return Specialist (2024, coaches)
AP First Team All-Big Ten (2024)
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week (1x in 2024)
Big Ten Freshman of the Week (1x in 2024)
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Finalist (2024)
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Semifinalist (2024)
Shaun Alexander National Freshman Player of the Week (10/8/24)
Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week (10/15/24)

2025 • SOPHOMORE SEASON: Played offense (one catch for 12 yards), defense (two tackles) and special teams (one punt return for 18 yards) against Buffalo • started on offense and defense against Northwestern State • made one catch for 24 yards, totaled three tackles (one tackle for loss) and had four punt returns for 33 yards against Northwestern State.

2024 • FRESHMAN SEASON: Played in all 13 games and started three on defense • also saw action on offense and was the team's primary kick and punt returner • made 46 tackles and had 2.5 tackles for loss • forced one fumble, broke up three passes and made five interceptions (totaled 63 interception return yards) • returned 20 punts for 188 yards and 16 kickoffs for 314 yards • finished fourth on the team in all-purpose yards with 565 • since 1976, Perich was the only freshman in all of FBS to have recorded more than 100 punt return yards, 100 kick return yards and five interceptions in a season • named an All-American by Sporting News and was named All-Big Ten First Team (first Gopher freshman to be named All-Big Ten First Team since running back Darrell Thompson in 1986). Game-by-Game: Competed against North Carolina • tallied one tackle against Rhode Island, returned first career interception 16 yards and returned one punt for 28 yards • returned two punts for 22 yards and made one tackle against Nevada • returned four kickoffs for 80 yards against Iowa • led team with 108 all-purpose yards (82 punt return, 26 kick return) at Michigan • made six tackles, forced one fumble, had one interception and returned one punt and one kick against USC • made two interceptions and had two tackles at UCLA, while also returning three punts and one kickoff • made three tackles and returned one interception 45 yards against Maryland, while also returning three punts for 31 yards • made three tackles at Illinois and returned one kickoff for 18 yards • returned three kickoffs for 62 yards and made five tackles and half of a tackle for loss at Rutgers • returned one kickoff for 23 yards and also had 13 tackles and one tackle for loss against Penn State • made a team-high eight tackles and broke up one pass at Wisconsin, while also returning two kickoffs for 50 yards and four punts for five yards • returned one kickoff for 23 yards and also had 13 tackles and one tackle for loss against Penn State • made a team-high eight tackles and broke up two passes at Wisconsin, while also returning two kickoffs for 50 yards and four punts for five yards • broke up one pass, had one tackle for loss and made four tackles against Virginia Tech.

HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Esko High School in Esko, Minn. • wore No. 3 for the Eskomos and was coached by Scott Arnston • as a senior, played defense, offense and special teams as he led his team to a 10-1 record • played in 10 games and responsible for 27 total touchdowns • made 62 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, five interceptions, recovered two fumbles and forced one fumble while also scoring five defensive touchdowns • rushed 61 times for 708 yards 16 touchdowns and also had six receptions for 80 yards and one score • passed for one touchdown • had 12 total returns for 464 yards, while returning three punts for a touchdown and one kickoff for a touchdown • named First-Team All-State by the AP • named MVP of the 2024 All-American Bowl after making one interception, blocking and recovering one punt, breaking up two passes and recording one tackle for loss • also played basketball and ran track in high school • was the 2022 Class A long jump state champion and also finished sixth in the triple jump • consensus four-star recruit • ranked as the No. 1 prospect in Minnesota by On3, 247Sports and ESPN and No. 3 safety in the nation by On3 • On3 listed him as the No. 53 overall recruit in the country.

PERSONAL: Son of George and Danielle Perich • has one brother (Mason) • father, George, played football at Valley City State University • mother, Danielle, competed in basketball and track and field at Valley City State University • brother, Mason, plays college football at Minnesota State.