Minnesota's Koi Perich named to Chuck Bednarik Award watch list
As the 2025 season draws closer, Minnesota star safety Koi Perich earned another preseason watchlist honor on Monday morning.
On Monday, Perich was named to the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is annually given to college football’s Defenisve Player of the Year in the eyes of the Maxwell Football Club. Since the award’s inception in 1995, no Gopher has won the award.
Last season, Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter earned the award. Since 2010, only one Big Ten player has earned the honor, that being Ohio State’s Chase Young in 2019.
Perich, entering his second season with a program, was one of the country’s top safeties as a true freshman in 2024. In 13 games, Perich recorded 46 total tackles, fifth best on the Gophers, including 2.5 tackles for loss. He also had five interceptions and three pass breakups over the course of the season.
His 88.9 overall defensive grade on Pro Football Focus ranked seventh in college football among all safeties and ahead of notables such as Caleb Downs (Ohio State) and R.J. Mickens (Clemson).
For his performance, Perich earned All-Big Ten First Team honors as a defensive back as well as being named a FWAA Freshman All-American and a Sporting News Second Team All-American.
Which Golden Gophers have been named to preseason watch lists?
Maxwell Award: Darius Taylor
Doak Walker Award: Darius Taylor, AJ Turner
Jim Thorpe Award: Koi Perich
Bronco Nagurski Trophy: Koi Perich
Chuck Bednarik Award: Koi Perich
Walter Camp Award: Koi Perich
Paul Hornung Award: Koi Perich
Jet Award: Koi Perich
John Mackey Award: Jameson Geers
Biletnikoff Award: Javon Tracy
Lott IMPACT Trophy: Anthony Smith, Koi Perich
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