Koi Perich Named Alexander Award Player of the Week

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Minnesota freshman safety Koi Perich has had a slow start to his career, but the Esko, Minn. native couldn’t have picked a better time for a coming-out party than Week 6 as he helped the Golden Gophers (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten Conference) stun the then-No. 11 USC Trojans (3-2, 1-2) 24-17 on Oct. 5. 

Thanks to a career night against the Trojans with 6 total tackles (5 solo), a forced fumble and a victory-sealing interception with nine seconds left to play, Perich was named the Week 6 Shaun Alexander Award Player of the Week by the Maxwell Football Club on Oct. 8. 

Golden Opportunity

So far this season, Perich had registered just 2 total tackles and an interception for Minnesota, but the 6-foot-1, 200-pound safety was a drive stopper on not one, but two promising USC drives. After the Minnesota offense answered USC’s first touchdown of the game to take a 10-3 lead with 4:05 left in the first half, the Trojans looked poised to take the lead just before halftime thanks to running back Quinten Joyner. On second-and-2, Joyner broke loose on a 21-yard scamper to the Minnesota 26-yard line, but Perich was able to free the ball at the end of the play and cornerback Ethan Robinson recovered the fumble. 

Perich’s signature play of the game would come with just seconds left to play with the Trojans driving to tie the game. After the Gophers took a 24-17 lead on quarterback Max Brosmer’s fourth-and-goal, 1-yard touchdown sneak with 56 seconds left, USC quarterback Miller Moss led the Trojans to the Minnesota 20-yard line with the aid of two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties by the defense. On first-and-10, Moss dropped back and lofted a pass to the middle of the end zone only to watch as Perich leapt over wide receiver Duce Robinson to make the game-winning interception. 

“I knew he was throwing to the 6-6 guy,” Perich said after the game. “That guy's huge. Just go up and make a play, and I made it this time."

For the season, Perich has 8 total tackles, a forced fumble and 2 interceptions. The Gophers, who snapped a two-game losing streak, next will travel west to take on the UCLA Bruins (1-4, 0-3) at 8 p.m. EST on Oct. 12. 

The Shaun Alexander Award

One of the Maxwell Football Club’s most prestigious awards, the Shaun Alexander Award is presented to the best freshman player in college football each year. Originally named the College Football Freshman Player of the Year Award, the award was established in 2019. The inaugural winner was quarterback Trevor Lawrence of Clemson, while former Alabama and current Ohio State defensive back Caleb Downs won the award in 2023.