Ever since the last season wrapped up, chatter has swirled around Gophers star safety Koi Perich mixing in some offensive plays as a sophomore. Minnesota’s spring practices have now locked in the hype—he’s set to shine on both offense and defense this fall, and he’s no mere “gadget” player.
At Tuesday’s practice, Perich rocked a unique two-way jersey, split right down the middle with white for offense and maroon for defense, a bold nod to his dual role.
“Drake (Lindsey) and the other QBs kept saying how tough it was to spot me on offense when I’d cut across the middle, so we rolled with it,” Perich explained about his two-way jersey. “Coach P.J. (Fleck) came up with it, but he’s passing all the props to Brady (Gagnon), our equipment guy.” The jersey, split maroon and white, reflects his dual role.
Last season, Perich exploded onto the scene as a true freshman, topping the Big Ten with five picks despite not starting full-time on defense early on. He owned kick and punt returns, too, and by year’s end, Fleck was testing him with a sprinkle of offensive snaps.
Now, Perich could be a legit two-way force. He won’t log every offensive snap like Colorado’s Travis Hunter did en route to the Heisman, but expect more than just a cameo. “He’s a do-it-all athlete,” Fleck said post-practice. “The more you tap into Koi Perich, the better you’ll be—it’s that simple. Snap a pic of his jersey and connect the dots. He’s too electric not to be out there, somehow, all game long—not just on one side.”
Back at Esko High near Duluth, Perich was a multi-sport phenom—offense, defense, special teams—always the standout. He played running back and receiver, and it’s the latter he’s eyeing for the Gophers’ offense. High school athleticism got him far, but D-I receiver work demands precision. He’s been grinding with Minnesota’s wideouts, sharpening his releases off the line.
“Playing both ways means everything,” Perich said. “But it’s not handed to you—it’s earned. More work, always more work, that’s the deal.”
Fleck praised offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr. for tailoring Perich’s load: “Greg’s giving him what he can chew, but we want him to excel at it. This isn’t some gimmick. He’s not a gadget guy—he’s an athlete here to make plays everywhere, including returns. He’s handling it like a champ.”
One thing’s for sure: This fall, Perich’s No. 3 will be all over Gophers games. Beyond offense and special teams, he’s the heart of a defense now led by coordinator Danny Collins. They’ll move him around—free safety, box safety, nickel—to unleash his skills. With Perich, Kerry Brown, and Aidan Gousby, Minnesota’s safety crew might be the nation’s best.
“He’s a rare breed,” Collins said. “That safety room’s stacked with talent, and the more we get those guys out there together, the tougher we’ll be to stop.”
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