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 to Hunter, a projected top NFL draft pick later this month, but the game-changing ability resides in Perich.
Perich’s five interceptions last season was tied for fourth in the nation; two of them sealed wins against Southern California and UCLA. It led to him being named all-Big Ten first team. On special teams, he averaged 9.4 yards per punt return, including a 60-yarder in the comeback attempt at Michigan, and put up 19.6 yards per kickoff return.
“It means a lot,” Perich said about also playing on offense. “But that obviously comes with more work. Every opportunity is not given, it’s earned. So with that, you just gotta keep putting in more work and more work. That’s what comes with it.”
Perich’s offensive role this spring has been catching a periodic pass in the two open practices; one spotted in each session. How much and where offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh will use Perich will start to be reveled in season opener against Buffalo on Aug. 28 — or more likely at California on Sept. 13 and the Big Ten opener versus Rutgers on Sept. 27.
Harbaugh, of course, wasn’t willing to detail what Perich’s offensive role will be. “He’s a pretty good player, so I will work with him,” he deadpanned.
For Perich in 2025, it isn’t just the grandiose idea of playing everywhere, it’s the granular details in being a safety. Fleck said a point of emphasis for Perich will be a higher attention within fundamentals.
“I think when you play as a true freshman, you’re kind of thrown in the fire and you’re just making plays and you’re running around,” Fleck said in March at the start of spring practices. “Yes, you’re within the scheme. Yes, you’re doing your assignment. You’re doing it right, but are you doing it as efficiently as you possibly can?”
Perich, who is listed at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, has his own list of things he wants to improve: his man-to-man coverage skills and working on his releases from the line of scrimmage as a wide receiver.
On Tuesday, Fleck noticed how Perich could improve his positioning and hand placement when taking on blocks and popped over to tell him how he should improve it. These finer points can be more easily addressed in spring practices, something Perich didn’t do as he finished up his senior year in northeastern Minnesota a year ago.
“Isn’t that hard to believe: the kid got here in June?” Fleck said.
On top of defense and special teams at Esko, Perich played running back and reciever. “You just develop those ball skills,” he said. “And I think those carry over for anything you’re doing.”
And his role also appears to be growing on defense, with new defensive coordinator Danny Collins putting Perich in at nickel back.
“I just try to come in and put in more work each day and hopefully everybody can see that,” Perich said about becoming a team leader. “And they can build off what I’m doing, either if it’s in the weight room or on the field, and just work off my energy. That’s what I try to do each and every day.”
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