Perich impresses Gophers coach

Through three games, Esko’s Koi Perich is making an impact in his first year at the University of Minnesota and the Golden Gophers football program.

Perich made his college debut on special teams in the Aug. 29 loss to North Carolina. The next week, in a 48-0 rout of Rhode Island, Perich had 17 defensive plays and nabbed an interception. He also had a 28-yard punt return, the team’s longest of the season.

With the regular punt returner injured, Perich returned punts in the Gophers’ third game, a win against Nevada. He had 22 yards on two returns.

Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck has been effusive about what he’s seen from the first-year player.

“I’ve really never had a freshman that — I don’t know what the word is — enlightens me? Makes me feel calm and also, like, how he’d just make me feel that calm so quickly,” Fleck said after the 27-0 win over Nevada. “He’s a really special talent. He’s gotta keep molding that. But every time he touches the football, I just sit there and go, ‘Oh my gosh, something good’s gonna happen with it.’”

After the second game, Perich was interviewed by the Minnesota Star Tribune about how things were going.

“Never gone through so much playbook and meetings,” Perich said. “It’s crazy, but it was a good time. I was taking it day by day. It was awesome. And then, obviously, game time you’ve got to perform.”

The Gophers will begin its Big Ten schedule Saturday night with a rivalry game against Iowa.