Gophers Top 2024 Football Commit Koi Perich Moves into National Top-100

PJ Fleck and the Minnesota Gophers’ 2023 season is teetering on the edge of disaster, as they rest up and regroup during their week 7 bye. But there’s always hope lurking around every corner. This weekend, that hope lies in the future, with 2024 Esko, MN commit, Koi Perich.

Top in-state prospect, Koi Perich, receives big time ratings upgrade.

Perich is a 6-1, 195 pound high school safety prospect whose highlight tape screams HARRISON SMITH. I mean, he looks and plays like a man amongst boys on Friday nights. That’s why Koi was named to the 2024 247Sports National “Freaks List”.

Very good athlete with excellent multi-sport results. Sub 11 in the 100 meters, explosive on the basketball court and those traits translate to football where he is a sudden, athletic football player. Shows closing speed and can explode into contact — seems to like contact. Closes well when the ball is in the air also and shows good ball skills. Athleticism shows as an offensive player, punt returner and after interceptions also. Dominant against his high school competition.

Perich, who is committed to play for the in-state Gophers, adds that he’s close to power cleaning 315 pounds. Freaky.

247Sports.com

Related: How to watch Gophers football in 2023

His standout play to start the 2023 high school season ( has earned him an upgrade in his recruiting profile, moving him from the #29 safety in the country, to #8. His fresh new 93 overall rating at 247Sports (up from 90 overall) forced an unprecedented climb from the #307 overall 2024 prospect, all the way up to the #83 overall.

Watch Koi Perich and you will fall in love…

Koi Perich’s mid-season HUDL upload from a couple weeks ago is over 9 minutes long and every single play is eye-popping, both offensively, as the Eskomos running back, and defensively, as their safety. We’re talking about the most skilled player in the state, yet he’s bigger than most of the offensive linemen he’s blowing past.

His 247Sports evaluation says “seems to like contact”. Yeah, his highlight reel may be nearly 10 minutes long but it only takes one clip for that statement to be proven true. PJ Fleck and Joe Rossi have to be foaming at the mouth thinking about this kid in maroon and gold.

Of course, when the Minnesota Gophers find and bring in elite-level talent, there are sure to be helmet school leeches that coming knocking soon after. Perich already has offers from Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan and Wisconsin. But a couple of weeks ago, USC officially made an offer.

Committed to the Minnesota Gophers no matter what NIL offers come his way

Related: PJ Fleck Pleads Gophers Fans and Boosters for More NIL Money

Perich has said recently that he will “always listen” to new offers. But if there is one homemade kid who doesn’t seem likely to be swooned away by helmet schools or high-income NIL deals, it’s Koi Perich, who went on record months ago declaring his dedication to the University of Minnesota, no matter what kind of cash gets thrown his way.

“I’m 100% going to stay with the Gophers. They’re the school that I think I see myself in. Even if a cash check comes my way from elsewhere. I’m going to stay with the Gophers. I want to write my own story, so let’s keep it going.”

Koi Perich via GopherIllustrated.com (247Sports)

Fleck and the 2023 Gophers have a chance to turn their season around next weekend, with his first-ever win vs the Hawkeyes. But win or lose, it looks like he’s getting a future superstar in next year’s recruiting class.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan