The Gophers had 21 total players from the 2025 football team enter the transfer portal this winter — none more high profile than Koi Perich.
Perich, a rising junior from Esko, Minn., committed to Oregon on Monday night. The two-time all-Big Ten safety, return man and part-time offensive player is staying in the Big Ten, but it’s a powerhouse Minnesota won’t have to play in 2026 nor ’27.
Minnesota Gophers defensive back Koi Perich (3) is photographed during the team’s NCAAA football media day in Minneapolis on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
At Minnesota, Perich had a great true freshman season, but experienced a dip during his sophomore campaign. He went from five interceptions to one and his Pro Football Focus grade dropped from 88.9 to 62.4 over the two years.
But Perich remains extremely talented. He can make splash plays and totaled over 1,200 defensive snaps at the U. He could continue to develop and cause Minnesota and its fanbase to lament his exit. There is precedent here.
Former Gophers running back Bucky Irving left the U for the Ducks in 2022 and went on to have two 1,000-yard seasons in Eugene, Ore., before featuring for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL.
Besides Perich, two other departing Gophers are staying in the conference. To-be redshirt sophomore running back Fame Ijeboi said last Friday he will move to Purdue, and redshirt junior receiver Malachi Coleman committed to Wisconsin on Monday.
Ijeboi was Minnesota’s second leading rusher a season ago, stepping in for injured starter Darius Taylor. Ijeboi with 441 yards and two touchdowns of 97 carries, adding 12 catches for 54 yards and one score.
Coleman has freakish traits at 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, but the former Nebraska player and top 100 national recruit coming out high school in Lincoln, Neb., didn’t produce much in two years with the Cornhuskers and his one at Minnesota. He had five catches for 83 yards in eight games this fall.
Both Coleman and Ijeboi will have the chance at revenge games next season. The U play the Boilermakers next fall, and of course, the Gophers play the Badgers for Paul Bunyan’s Axe every November.
The rest of the Gophers outgoing players have committed to smaller schools or are still looking for their next spot.
Cornerback Za’Quan Bryan, who was a starter at the U until November, is headed to South Florida.
Cornerback Jaylen Bowden and defensive end Steven Curtis — two members of the 2025 portal class who didn’t work out at the U — are going down to the Group of Five conferences: Bowden to East Carolina and Curtis to North Texas.
Detroit Lakes safety Ethan Carrier is going to South Dakota; punter Caleb McGrath, of Eastview High School, is off to North Dakota State; running back Tre Berry has linked up with Tennessee State.
Twelve other players have not yet decided on their next school. The notables on that list are quarterback Jackson Kollock, receivers Kenric Lanier, Cristian Driver and Legend Lyons, offensive linemen Kahlee Tafai and Reese Tripp of Mantorville, Minn.
This is, in part, a cautionary tale. Heading into the portal doesn’t always result in the grass being greener on the other side.
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