Beyond just who’s under center, there may be no more exciting prospect in the sport than safety Koi Perich. The Esko, Minnesota product stayed home. He then stayed home again when the portal could have been a reality.

Now set to play on both sides of the ball, his arrow is pointing straight up. It’s going to take additional effort from Perich to thrive in this role, but the Travis Hunter comparisons aren’t going to slow down.

Koi Perich will do it all for Minnesota Gophers

Last season Travis Hunter took the college football world by storm on his way to a Heisman trophy. He played at an incredibly high level on both sides of the football. Koi Perich will attempt to do the same thing this season for the Minnesota Gophers, and it’s possible that Fleck’s star takes Minnesota to new heights.

The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman is convinced he’s the real deal, and he certainly didn’t hold back on the Hunter comparisons.

Travis Hunter blazed a path for current and future two-way football stars by channeling his exceptional athletic ability into an unprecedented workload during last year’s Heisman Trophy-winning campaign at Colorado. First in line to follow his example is Minnesota’s sophomore safety, who made an immediate impact in his debut college season and has eyes on adding to his plate this fall. He’s perhaps the most versatile threat in college football, but the major question facing Perich is whether he can produce on offense while remaining effective on defense, where he primarily shined as a freshman.

It requires talent, conditioning and endurance for any player to threaten Hunter’s average of 119 snaps per game. But it’s not hyperbole to suggest Perich can approach a similar snap count while impacting games on both sides of the ball. As a true freshman last fall, Perich led the Big Ten with five interceptions and was the only Football Bowl Subdivision freshman since 1976 to total more than 100 punt return yards (188), 100 kick return yards (314) and five interceptions in a season. Among Big Ten performers, Perich ranked fourth in punt return average and sixth as a kick returner.

The Athletic

While the direct correlation between Hunter and Perich doesn’t have to be statistical production based, it will be worth watching overall snap rates. It’s clear that Fleck is going to unplug the firehose and douse Perich with as much as he can handle as well.

“This isn’t a gimmick. This is a real thing where he’s going to play offense. It could be a Wildcat quarterback. He’s going to be on defense, he’s going to kick return, he’s going to punt return. But Koi will show us what he can handle and how much we give him. We’re going to do as much as Koi will allow us to do. There’s not a lot of people who can do that and do it successfully. We feel Koi can, and I’m not comparing him to Travis by any means, but I’m saying that he is somebody who did it within the last decade. That’s how hard it really is. And if you’re going to do it, you’ve got to be both feet in on it. But if there’s one person that can do it, it’s Koi.”

P.J. Fleck – The Athletic

How much Perich can handle in this role is something that remains to be seen. He’s an uber-talented athlete that plays football. He has played offense and defense, but he lives between the lines. It’s not a leap to suggest he isn’t the biggest film or preparation guy. To what extent that holds him back remains to be seen.

Related: Koi Perich Leaving Gophers for Vikings ASAP

If Perich can fully commit to excellence on both sides of the football though, he’s going to have the opportunity to do something specia.

Perich and MN Gophers have opportunity in front of them

Minnesota’s schedule isn’t exactly a house of horrors this season. They travel to both Oregon and Ohio State, but there isn’t another opponent on the docket that looks like a guaranteed loss. That should be invigorating for both Perich and Fleck.

Although Minnesota went just 8-5 last season, they built momentum with their Duke’s Mayo Bowl victory over Virginia Tech. This is Fleck’s opportunity to prove he got the quarterback position right again in the form of Drake Lindsey.

Minnesota’s Koi Perich is one of the best players in the country

Playing both ways and as a returner he impacts the game in so many ways

So excited to watch him this year pic.twitter.com/A6RRksuAc9

— CFBTalkDaily (@CFBTalkDaily) July 11, 2025

Perich led the Big Ten last season with five interceptions. He added 46 tackles and has three behind the line of scrimmage. He’ll now rack up offensive statistics as well, and the more Minnesota can push him into positive production the better.

Related: New Gophers QB Tasked With More Responsibilities at LOS

Travis Hunter doesn’t have to be the measuring stick, but Perich is just a sophomore and it’s up to him if the bar is going to be raised.

Can the Minnesota Vikings address two positions with Travis Hunter?

The Colorado Buffalos are currently among the most polarizing teams in college football. Deion Sanders runs a program that certainly draws headlines. Despite the charades they do have talent, and the best of it is wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter. The latest mock draft from CBS has Minnesota grabbing the prospect with the 9th overall pick.

“What a fun selection here — Hunter can act as the No. 1 CB in Minnesota and Kevin O’Connell can design an offensive package to utilize Hunter for the true beginning of the J.J. McCarthy era.”

Chris Trapasso on Travis Hunter to Minnesota (CBS Sports)

What Travis Hunter is currently doing at the college level is unprecedented. It is rare to see a player capable of competing on both sides of the football. Hunter being able to be on the field nearly 100% of the time is unheard of. It doesn’t seem likely that he will be able to keep that up at the next level, but Minnesota could use him in both spots.

Travis Hunter through two weeks

On the field for 96.3% of Colorado's offensive and defensive snaps

More tackles resulting in a defensive stop (6) than receptions allowed (5)

242 receiving yards (14th in FBS) https://t.co/SCi4iFbOcR

— Gordon McGuinness (@PFF_Gordon) September 8, 2024

Related: Minnesota Vikings Defense Felt Bad for Daniel Jones

Even if Hunter competes on just one side of the football he should be seen as a first round pick. Where and how the Vikings dictate he would most benefit them is something that could be interesting to observe.

Is Travis Hunter the best use of a Minnesota draft pick?

The Minnesota Vikings did not address their wide receiver position this offseason. Jalen Nailor stuck as the third option and may prove to be a great choice as the year goes on. It seems unlikely that Jordan Addison is going anywhere, so Travis Hunter would be a luxury there.

Travis Hunter putting on a pass coverage clinic #SkoBuffs pic.twitter.com/F4RQlZERoH

— Barstool Colorado (@CUBarstool) August 5, 2023

Stephon Gilmore was brought in to strengthen the cornerback room but is an aging commodity. There aren’t many young options for Brian Flores to rely upon against opposing offenses. Hunter may be best served there for the Vikings. Either position would mean passing on an interior defensive lineman to play alongside the newly extended Harrison Phillips.

Trapasso’s mock draft doesn’t have any interior defensive linemen going until the 15th pick. Kentucky’s Deone Walker is the first off the board, and that would require Minnesota having a later pick due to a better year. The Vikings could move back in the first round in order to generate addition draft capital. They definitely don’t need a quarterback with J.J. McCarthy on the roster.

Related: Aaron Jones Gloats About Minnesota Vikings Hospitality, Takes Shot at Packers?

We’re still a long time from the Vikings needing to sort out any of their draft plans. If Hunter did become the pick, there’s no doubt it would be a lot of fun.