Gophers recruit Koi Perich named 5th freakiest athlete in the country

He's the No. 1 recruit in Minnesota in the Class of 2024, according to 247Sports.
Gophers recruit Koi Perich named 5th freakiest athlete in the country
Gophers recruit Koi Perich named 5th freakiest athlete in the country /

Koi Perich, one of the highest rated high school recruits from Minnesota in the Class of 2024, has been labeled one of the "biggest freaks" in the national recruiting class by 247Sports. 

The Esko High School star is committed to the Gophers and sits atop 247Sports' state rankings as a four-star recruit, just ahead of Oklahoma-bound Rogers High School edge rusher Wyatt Gilmore. 

In terms of freakish athleticism, Perich is ranked No. 5 overall on 247's list of the 50 biggest freaks in the graduating class of 2024. That's fifth in the nation, not just Minnesota. Here's how Perich is described: 

Perich's posterizing dunks and 11-foot-1 running jump were going to be enough to warrant him a spot high on this year's list, but arguably his most impressive feat off the football field came this past spring when he posted a 10.89-second effort in the 100-meter dash despite running in frigid 40-degree Minnesota temperatures. Perich, who is committed to play for the in-state Gophers, adds that he's close to power cleaning 315 pounds. Freaky.

Last season, as a junior, Perich rushed for more than 800 yards and 11 touchdowns, had nine receiving touchdowns, two punt return touchdowns, three kick return touchdowns, along with 75 tackles, three interceptions, four forced fumbles and two sacks. 

Perich and Esko open the 2023 high school football season Thursday, Aug. 31 at Duluth East. 

Perich, who will likely play safety in college, picked Minnesota over offers from other FBS schools including Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Washington and Wisconsin.


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Joe Nelson
JOE NELSON

Title: Bring Me The Sports co-owner, editor Email: joe@bringmethenews.com Twitter: @JoeBMTN Education: Southwest Minnesota State University Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Expertise: All things Minnesota sports Nelson has covered Minnesota sports for two decades, starting his media career in sports radio. He worked at small market Minnesota stations in Marshall and St. Cloud before joining one of the nation's highest-rated sports stations, KFAN-FM 100.3 in the Twin Cities. There, he was the producer of the top-rated mid-morning sports show with Minnesota Vikings announcer Paul Allen.  His radio experience helped blossom a career as a sports writer, joining Minneapolis-based Bring Me The News in 2011.  Nelson and Adam Uren became co-owners of Bring Me The News in 2018 and have since more than tripled the site's traffic and launched Bring Me The Sports in cooperation with the Sports Illustrated/FanNation umbrella. Nelson has covered the Super Bowl and numerous training camps, NFL combines, the MLB All-Star Game and Minnesota playoff games, in addition to the day-to-day happenings on and off the field of play.  Nelson also has extensive knowledge of non-sports subjects, including news and weather. He works closely with Bring Me The News meteorologist Sven Sundgaard to produce a bevy of weather and climate information for Minnesota readers.  Nelson helped launch and manage the Bring Me The News Radio Network, which provided more than 50 radio stations around Minnesota with daily news, sports and weather reports from 2011-17.