Koi Perich nabs National Defensive Back of the Week honors
Makoi Perich finds the endzone on Saturday.
Just one day after becoming the second Minnesota Gopher football freshman to earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, Esko native Koi Perich nabbed another top honor. On Tuesday he was named the Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week.
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On Saturday, Perich helped the Gophers best UCLA 21-17 with two tackles and two interceptions, including the game-winner. His first led to a Minnesota touchdown to put them up 14-10, and his second was on UCLA’s final offensive play.
Perich now leads the team in interceptions with four. That is the most-ever by a Gopher freshman, topping the three by Kyle Theret in 2007 and Crawford Jordan in 1994.