Splash plays earn Gophers recruit Koi Perich MVP at All-American game

Perich made an interception and blocked a punt.

An interception and a blocked punt by Koi Perich were enough to earn the blossoming football star from northern Minnesota the most valuable player award at Saturday's All-American Bowl. 

The athletic safety from Esko High school made an athletic diving interception at the goal line to thwart a scoring drive by the Team East and he later blocked a punt to help Team West win the high school All-American game 31-28 in San Antonio, Texas. 

Perich is a four-star recruit and rated No. 84 in the country by 247Sports. He verbally committed to his home state Gophers in early 2023 and signed his letter of intent with Minnesota after visiting Ohio State and getting late offers from other college football powers, including Florida State. 

Perich was one of four members of the Gophers 2024 recruiting class invited to the All-American Bowl, joining offensive tackle Nathan Roy, offensive guard Brett Carroll and defensive lineman Riley Sunram. 

Roy and Sunram are both rated four-star recruits by 247Sports while Carroll is a three-star player. Together, they headline a Minnesota recruiting class that ranks 38th nationally, per 247Sports. 

From left to right, Gophers recruits Brett Carroll, Koi Perich and Riley Sunram / P.J. Fleck, X