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The Gophers are turning Koi Perich into a two-way — heck, a three-way — player, and they are stitching it all together this spring.
Let’s start with the true sophomore’s practice jersey, which is half maroon (like all defensive players wear) and half white (like the offensive guys). The Esko native’s No. 3 is split vertically down the middle.
Next have been the brief glimpses of the U safety taking an offensive snap here and there during two open-to-media practices over the last two weeks; the Gophers don’t dig deep into its playbook during these sessions, but they have been cool with showing that.
“He’s too good of a football player not to be on the field somehow, someway, throughout the entire game, not just on one side,” head coach P.J. Fleck said Tuesday. “I think (offensive coordinator Greg) Harbaugh has done a really good job of giving him what he can handle, but whatever we give him, we want him to be really good at.”
As a true freshman, Perich primarily played safety, returned punts and kickoffs and cameo’d on offense, but didn’t record a carry or a catch. That will change in 2025.
“This isn’t just a gadget thing,” Fleck clarified. “We’re not looking at him to be a gadget. He’s going to be an athlete on this football team and make plays on every side of the ball, plus the return game. He’s done a really good job of handling all of it.”
The practice jersey is an indication of their commitment. It spawned from quarterback Drake Lindsey saying it was hard to see Perich when he was running routes over the middle of the field. P.J. Fleck came up with the idea, Perich said, and equipment manager Brady Gagnon made it happen.
Travis Hunter won the Heisman Trophy playing both cornerback and wide receiver at Colorado last season. At this point, it’s way too much to compare Perich…
Source link : https://www.twincities.com/2025/04/09/gophers-football-star-safety-koi-perichs-role-on-offense-will-be-more-than-a-gadget/
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Publish date : 2025-04-09 11:45:00
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