Ohio State offers Minnesota 4-star safety commit Koi Perich
Esko (Minn.) four-star safety Koi Perich committed to the in-state Minnesota Golden Gophers on April 19, giving PJ Fleck and Co. their highest-ranked pledge in the 2024 cycle.
Perich chose Minnesota over a crop of Big Ten programs, including Wisconsin, Iowa and Michigan. That offer list didn’t include Ohio State back in the spring, but it does now. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder announced on Monday night that he’s received an offer from Ryan Day and the Buckeyes.
Perich is the No. 115 overall prospect and No. 8 safety in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the top-ranked player in Minnesota.
On3 ranks Perich higher than other recruiting services, as he jumped all the way up to No. 59 overall in the updated On300 Rankings. He received a glowing review upon the updated ranking from On3’s Cody Bellaire:
“Koi Perich was one of the bigger risers in our initial 2024 senior update even with a limited sample size. After having only 2 games played as a senior it was very evident that he was someone we needed to get a closer look at because he was such a dynamic two-way player that jumped off the screen on nearly ever snap. Now after having seen five games, it wasn’t a fluke. Perich has arguably the best trigger of any safety in the country. His ability to run the alley and fly to the football while maintaining control and being explosive on contact should have every defensive coach in America salivating. Not only is he great in the short area, but he has the long speed to play as a deep safety in the middle of the field.”
Ohio State’s recruiting class — which ranks No. 2 in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings — is already chock-full of elite defensive backs. Springfield (Ohio) four-star cornerback Aaron Scott Jr and Cleveland Glenville four-star CB Bryce West are both top-70 prospects.
Flanking the high-profile in-state corners are West Orange (N.J.) Seton Hall Prep four-star safety Jaylen McClain, Chandler (Ariz.) Basha four-star CB Miles Lockhart and Fort Myers (Fla.) Bishop Verot three-star safety Leroy Roker.
Koi Perich Scouting Summary
“Hyper-athletic, physical safety with a penchant for making big plays. Looks like one of the nation’s best at the position midway through his senior season. Has unverified size and is listed at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds. Registers as a top athlete, posting an elite 10.89 second mark in the 100 meters as a junior along with a very strong 42-6 foot triple jump. A truly dominant high school football player who regularly makes big plays in all three phases. A game-changer at safety, showing the ability to make plays on the ball in coverage. Plays with high-level instincts and ball skills. Shows deep range and a quick break on the ball in defending underneath routes. Triggers quickly against the run.
…Top-end speed shows up in his ability to close. A physical player who plays with an attitude and edge. Explodes into ball carriers, flashing significant striking power. Effective as a blitzer and flies off the edge to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Doubles as a very productive running back, using his athleticism and speed to rip off long runs with regularity. Also makes plays in special teams as a return man.”
Perich has an On3 NIL Valuation of $99K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.