The Gophers football program engaged in a nerve-racking recruiting battle with Ohio State for Koi Perich in the 2024 class, but the U beat out the Buckeyes for the signature of the four-star prospect coming out of Esko High School.
There might be a sense of pensive déjà vu in Dinkytown this winter.
Minnesota Gophers linebacker Devon Williams (9) and defensive back Koi Perich (3) tackle Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Emmett Johnson (21) in the first quarter of an NCAA football game at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
After two season at Minnesota, Perich has yet to announce whether he will return to the Gophers for the 2026 season or will enter the NCAA transfer portal. The window for players to hit the open market opens Friday and closes Jan. 16.
The Gophers have had approximately 14 total players share intent to enter the portal, including two key players from last year’s team — backup running back Fame Ijeboi and starting cornerback Za’Quan Bryan. But losing Perich would rocket to the top of the list of defections.
Running back Darius Taylor also left fans waiting to know his future but before the Rate Bowl in Phoenix last week he told KMSP-TV he is not transferring out. It’s more likely the Detroit native will be back in maroon and gold for his senior year in 2026 than go to the NFL draft. He needs to show pro teams he can stay healthy.
If Perich returns for next season, he would take up a sizable portion of the Gophers’ revenue-sharing and NIL budgets. If he leaves — likely with more money on the table from other programs — the U will have that bigger pot to use in the portal on potential replacements and elsewhere on the roster.
Perich arrived at Minnesota in 2024 with aplomb.
The true freshman safety was named all-Big Ten first team after five interceptions and 46 total tackles across all 13 games. He added 314 yards on kickoff returns and 188 on punts. Pro Football Focus gave Perich a sterling 88.9 overall grade, with 74.7 in tackling across 424 total defensive snaps.
More was put on Perich’s plate in his sophomore season.
He played a team-high 789 defensive snaps and was third on the team with 82 total tackles and added 499 yards on kickoff returns and 118 more on punts. He also dabbled on offense, with a handful of touches in the regular season.
But PFF was a harder grader of his defensive performances, with an average overall mark of 62.4, including a below-average mark of 51.4 in the tackling category.
“I think he got better as the year went on,” Gophers defensive coordinator and safeties coach Danny Collins said before the 20-17 win over New Mexico in the Rate Bowl. “I think a lot of people, when they look at Koi from his freshman year to his sophomore year, everybody wants to talk about the interceptions. You had five in your first year and one (in the second season). What happened? That’s a drop-off. I don’t necessarily see it that way. When people know that there is a dangerous guy back there, they usually stay away from him with the ball.”
In 2024, Perich benefitted from interceptions on Hail Mary plays from Southern Cal and UCLA. In 2025, he had one pick, but it was a huge one. In a 27-20 win over Purdue on Oct. 11, he disguised coverage, jumped in front of a route and returned it 27 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
The big-time play was part of Perich’s bounce back from a rough outing in a 27-14 loss at California on Sept. 13, when he muffed a punt that gave the Golden Bears a short field that resulted in a pivotal late touchdown.
“He had a really, really hard game (at Cal),” Collins said. “Then you see the growth and the progress that he continued to have. (I’m) really proud of the resilience he has, to see him continue to get better. Excited, obviously, for the future.”
Perich had three receptions and one carry across in the Gophers’ first three games, but after his game in Berekeley, he didnt have catch or rush for six straight games. Then in the Rate Bowl win, Perich totaled four receptions for 34 yards and added two carries for seven.
He played 20 snaps on offense in the regular season, but had 22 snaps on that side of the ball against New Mexico.
If Perich leaves, Minnesota would lose not only a key defensive player, but a dangerous return man and a potential big-play option on offense for the 2026 season.
