‘Absolute Freak Show’: Koi Perich Aims to Follow Travis Hunter’s Path as Two-Way Star

College Football ‘Absolute Freak Show’: Koi Perich Aims to Follow Travis Hunter’s Path as Two-Way Star

Updated Jul. 30, 2025 7:51 p wise mobile legends.m. ET

LAS VEGAS — From his spot behind the microphone in a bustling ballroom at Mandalay Bay during last week’s Big Ten Media Days, Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck wasted little time — mere seconds, in fact — to mention the name everyone had been thinking of since he hinted at the possibility of utilizing safety Koi Perich on both sides of the ball this upcoming season: Travis. Hunter.

“He received a lot of recognition for being a two-way player, right?” Fleck noted. “Not everyone can do that effectively. We believe Koi can. And while I’m not saying he’s on the same level as Travis Hunter, he is someone who has demonstrated how challenging it is to excel in such a role in the last decade. If you’re going to pull it off, you need to be fully committed. But if anyone can do it, it’s Koi.”

Recall that Hunter won the Heisman Trophy last December after producing what many consider to be one of the best individual seasons in college football history under head coach Deion Sanders at Colorado. As a cornerback, Hunter participated in 748 snaps, racking up 36 tackles, 11 pass breakups, four interceptions, and one forced fumble, finishing with the top interception-to-target ratio of any player in the Power 4 conferences. He was a lock for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and earned unanimous All-American status, claiming both the Bednarik Award and the Lott IMPACT Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player.

On the offensive side, Hunter played 714 snaps as a wide receiver, where he caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns — all ranking among the top five nationally. He won the Biletnikoff Award, recognizing the best wideout in college football, and became the first repeat recipient of the Paul Hornung Award, awarded to the most versatile player regardless of position. His accolades made him a consensus All-American, shared between first- and second-team lists depending on the publication.

Following an impressive college career, the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up to select Hunter at No. 2 overall in this year’s NFL Draft, with the clear intention of using him on both sides of the ball.

“I think he’s the perfect model to look up to and learn from,” said Perich, a first-team all-conference player as a true freshman in 2024. “He just had an incredible season, one of the best ever seen in college football. You can definitely learn from that what region is isabela city. If you want to play both ways, he’s set the blueprint. You just have to strive to mimic that, and that’s what my coaches and I are aiming to achieve.”

Hearing Minnesota’s delegation discussing this ambitious vision at Big Ten Media Days raised a host of questions, particularly considering the extreme rarity and difficulty of what Hunter accomplished last season. Key questions included: How feasible is it for the Gophers to use Perich, a former blue-chip recruit who opted for Minnesota over Ohio State, as a genuine two-way player? If the plan is for Perich to have minimal time off the field, what qualifies him for such a demanding role both physically and mentally?

For all the skeptics Hunter converted week after week, who played over 84% of Colorado’s snaps in 2024 — a season where no other FBS player surpassed 56% playing time — other high-profile two-way player rumors failed to materialize. Last May, Michigan cornerback Will Johnson revealed he and then-offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell discussed involving him at wide receiver due to a shortage of talent in that position. In another case, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day mentioned that star safety Caleb Downs, a transfer from Alabama, took reps at running back during spring practice, returning to a spot he excelled in at a young age leocadio sebastian.

However, once the regular season began and coaching staffs realized the risks associated with exposing two of the nation’s top players to excessive contact, the discussions surrounding broadened roles for Johnson and Downs faded into nothing more than a distant summer fantasy. Neither player took a single offensive snap during the entire 2024 season.

Back in Las Vegas, Fleck reassured reporters that the situation surrounding Perich would be different. He mentioned that talks about involving Perich on offense started during the recruitment phase, when the in-state prospect captured attention as a two-way star at Esko High School, about two hours north of Minneapolis. Fleck even suggested that Perich might have been utilized on offense last season had he enrolled early and participated in spring practice rather than arriving on campus in June.

“We’re going to do as much as Koi will allow us to do,” Fleck stated. “Koi works incredibly hard outside of regular practice. He’s been putting in considerable effort on his own since January, because we regarded last year as just a glimpse. We experimented with some offensive plays, but now we’re prepared to fully commit.”

Minnesota’s coaching staff has faith in Perich’s ability to handle a two-way role due to his impressive athletic profile. Beyond excelling in all three phases of football at Esko High School, where he scored touchdowns as a runner, receiver, passer, and defender, Perich also shone as a basketball player and track athlete, even winning a Class A long jump state championship in 2022. He reportedly runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds and boasts a vertical leap exceeding 40 inches, showcasing his athletic prowess with a 360-degree windmill dunk during a basketball warmup while his future head coach was in attendance for a recruiting visit.

Equally important, Fleck emphasized Perich’s unwavering focus on improving in football lucky slot 777 login. He humorously highlighted that Perich isn’t the type to “discuss world history or American history” or share hobbies like “collecting rocks and coins — that’s not who he is.” According to Fleck, competing is where Perich excels, resulting in him spending the spring and summer honing his conditioning for what he anticipates will be a significant offensive role.

“He’s an absolute freak show,” Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey exclaimed about Perich. “He’s really intelligent, understands all our plays exceptionally well, and he’s effectively learning the playbook. Plus, he’s incredibly talented with the ball in his hands. Personally, I appreciate how fast he plays. He doesn’t overthink; he just reacts, and that’s one of Koi’s best qualities.”

While both the coach and players were cautious about revealing where exactly Perich will play this fall, the expectation suggests a versatile role. There were whispers that he could take on the Gophers’ wildcat quarterback position, having rushed 61 times for 708 yards and 16 touchdowns during his senior year in high school. Fleck reminded the media that Perich possesses a commendable arm and is fully capable of making passes free math games. Additionally, his five interceptions last season, tying for fourth nationally and leading among freshmen, indicate that getting the ball in his hands as a receiver — similar to Hunter’s role — seems like the most strategic approach.

While the chances of Perich replicating Hunter’s feat at Colorado are slim, if not impossible, he remains eager for sufficient playing time to give it a shot. “Hopefully, I’ll get that chance,” Perich said. “That would be really exciting. I believe I have the capability to do it, and it all boils down to the opportunities presented.”

What are your thoughts on Koi Perich’s potential as a two-way player this season?