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MINNEAPOLIS — Koi Perich was once a sports-loving kid in northern Minnesota who grew determined at a young age to suit up for the home-state football team he so passionately supported.
Entering the season with enormous expectations after a propitious debut with the Gophers in 2024, naturally, must be quite the pinch-me experience for the second-year safety.
“No, I didn’t watch college football. My dream was to play for the Vikings,” said Perich, a second-team preseason AP All-America pick. “I would just skip through college if I could and just go straight to the Vikings. But you’ve got to do your three years, and I’m willing to do it.”
Perich smiled widely as he matter-of-factly spelled out his plan to declare for the NFL draft in 2027, a bold but predictable goal the Gophers will be more than happy to help him achieve. Team members with that level of self-confidence who can simultaneously gain the admiration and trust of peers and supervisors are few and far between, but Perich appears to be that rare type of player.
His exceptional status is only about to ascend.
After Perich led the Big Ten and set the Minnesota freshman record with five interceptions last season, he’s been taking regular turns at wide receiver during training camp while giving the Gophers a glimpse of Travis Hunter in a potential preview of college football’s next two-way star.
“Koi will have a specific job each week within the offense. He can do a lot of things,” offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Greg Harbaugh Jr. said. “Why would I not want the ball in his hands?”
Perich also had punt returns of 60 and 28 yards last season plus a 32-yard kickoff return. Hunter, who was the second-overall pick in the draft this spring by the Jacksonville Jaguars, didn’t even…
Source link : https://www.nbcsports.com/college-football/news/travis-hunter-meet-koi-perich-the-minnesota-sophomore-might-be-footballs-next-multi-position-star
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Publish date : 2025-08-26 23:13:00
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