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Photo by: Brad Rempel
Perich Named Thorpe Award National DB of the Week
10/15/2024 1:36:00 PM | Football
MINNEAPOLIS -- One day after becoming just the second Gopher freshman to be named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, University of Minnesota defensive back Koi Perich was once again lauded for his performance in Minnesota's 21-17 win at UCLA by being named the Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week Tuesday.
A true freshman, Perich had two interceptions and two tackles in the Minnesota win. His first interception led to a Minnesota touchdown that put the Gophers up 14-10. His second interception came on the final offensive play of the game for UCLA. It was the second straight week that Perich closed out a game with an interception, as he picked off USC's Miller Moss the week prior to secure the Minnesota victory.
Perich joined teammate Kerry Brown -- who had two picks against Nevada -- as the only Gopher freshmen since at least 1990 to have multiple interceptions in a game. In addition, Perich is the first Gopher with interceptions in back-to-back games since Antoine Winfield Jr., did so against Penn State and Maryland in 2019. That's also the last time a Gopher had three picks in a two-game span as Winfield had two against the Nittany Lions and one versus the Terrapins.
A native of Esko, Minn., Perich now has four interceptions on the season, which leads the team. The four interceptions are also the most ever by a Gopher freshman, topping the three by Kyle Theret in 2007 and by Crawford Jordan in 1994.
A true freshman, Perich had two interceptions and two tackles in the Minnesota win. His first interception led to a Minnesota touchdown that put the Gophers up 14-10. His second interception came on the final offensive play of the game for UCLA. It was the second straight week that Perich closed out a game with an interception, as he picked off USC's Miller Moss the week prior to secure the Minnesota victory.
Perich joined teammate Kerry Brown -- who had two picks against Nevada -- as the only Gopher freshmen since at least 1990 to have multiple interceptions in a game. In addition, Perich is the first Gopher with interceptions in back-to-back games since Antoine Winfield Jr., did so against Penn State and Maryland in 2019. That's also the last time a Gopher had three picks in a two-game span as Winfield had two against the Nittany Lions and one versus the Terrapins.
A native of Esko, Minn., Perich now has four interceptions on the season, which leads the team. The four interceptions are also the most ever by a Gopher freshman, topping the three by Kyle Theret in 2007 and by Crawford Jordan in 1994.
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