Minnesota defensive back Koi Perich was named to the 2025 Big Ten Football Preseason Honors list.
The annual list features 15 players from seven schools this year and is voted on by members of the media.
Played in all 13 games last year as a true freshman and started three of them on defense. He also saw action on offense and was the team’s primary kick and punt returner.
The Esko, Minn., native, made 46 tackles and had 2.5 tackles for loss. He also forced one fumble, broke up three passes and made five interceptions. Perich returned 20 punts for 188 yards and 16 kickoffs for 314 yards and finished fourth on the team in all-purpose yards with 565.
Since 1976, Perich is the only freshman in all of FBS to record more than 100 punt return yards, 100 kick return yards and five interceptions in a season.
He was named an All-American by Sporting News and was named All-Big Ten First Team to become the first Gopher freshman to be named All-Big Ten First Team since running back Darrell Thompson in 1986.
Koi Perich
Perich’s 2024 Honors
Sporting News Second Team All-American (2024)
FWAA Freshman All-American (2024)
All-Big Ten First Team, Defensive Back (2024)
All-Big Ten Second Team, Return Specialist (2024, media)
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention, Return Specialist (2024, coaches)
AP First Team All-Big Ten (2024)
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week (1x in 2024)
Big Ten Freshman of the Week (1x in 2024)
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Finalist (2024)
Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Semifinalist (2024)
Shaun Alexander National Freshman Player of the Week (10/8/24)
Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week (10/15/24)
2025 Big Ten Preseason Honors*
QB Luke Altmyer, ILL
OLB Gabe Jacas, ILL
DL Mikail Kamara, IND
DB D’Angelo Ponds, IND
OT Gennings Dunker, IOWA
C Logan Jones, IOWA
DB Koi Perich, MINN
OLB Matayo Uiagalelei, ORE
DB Dillon Thieneman, ORE
SAF Caleb Downs, OSU
WR JEREMIAH SMITH, OSU
LB Sonny Styles, OSU
QB Drew Allar, PSU
DE Dani Dennis-Sutton, PSU
RB Nicholas Singleton, PSU
Unanimous selections in ALL CAPS
(info courtesy of Gopher Sports and Big Ten Conference)
(photos courtesy of Gopher Sports)
