The Minnesota Gophers Football team is in the midst of its 2024 season bye week. The Gophers are fresh off consecutive victories after casting aside Big Ten newcomers USC and UCLA. Their Big Ten schedule will continue next Saturday when they host the Maryland Terrapins.
I’ll have a full preview of that game in a column next week, but I thought this would be a good time to discuss player awards and personnel changes.
Koi Perich Honored
Super frosh defensive back Koi Perich received three honors this week as his magical debut season at Minnesota continues. On Monday, he was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. He was so honored because of his two interceptions against the Bruins, including his second game-sealer in as many weeks. He now has four interceptions on the season for the Gophers.
He was also honored with the Thorpe Award, which recognizes the National Defensive Back of the Week. In addition to the two interceptions, he received the award for his two tackles and 27 return yards. His four interceptions are the most ever by a Gophers freshman.
And the Big Ten Network announced that the phenom from Esko, Minnesota was on the list for the top Defensive Candidate for Freshman of the Year at the midpoint of the season.
Gophers Lose McDonald to Transfer Portal
Gophers defensive back Craig McDonald entered the NCAA transfer portal on Tuesday. McDonald, who had previous stints at Iowa State and Auburn, never realized his potential at Minnesota, appearing in only the Rhode Island game this season.
Gophers coach P.J. Fleck worked hard to procure an NCAA waiver for McDonald, making him eligible for half of the 2023 season. McDonald has two years of eligibility remaining.
Minnesota Recruiting Update
The Gophers Football team currently has commitments from 23 high school student-athletes for its 2025 class, which ranks them 44th in the nation. Minnesota’s two four-star recruits in this class are 6’2, 225-pound linebacker Emmanuel Karmo from New Hope, Minnesota, and 6’4, 215-pound quarterback Jackson Kollock out of Laguna Beach, California.
Their 2026 recruiting list includes a couple of names with Minnesota Football roots. Former Packers and Vikings star defensive back Darren Sharper’s son Daylen has received a scholarship offer from the Gophers. He is a three-star 6’3, 200-pound wide receiver out of Phoenix Brophy Prep in Phoenix, Arizona.
His high school teammate Devin Fitzgerald, son of NFL star wide receiver and Minneapolis native Larry Fitzgerald Jr., has also received a scholarship offer from the Gophers. The unranked 6’2, 185-pound wide receiver has also received scholarship offers from Arizona, Pittsburgh, and Washington State.
Opponent Watch
Next week’s opponent, the 3-3 Maryland Terrapins, today hosts the 11th-ranked USC Trojans at SECU Stadium. This, of course, is the same Trojans team that the Gophers beat two weeks ago in a 27-24 hometown thriller. After losing its first three Big Ten games, Maryland will look to get their season back on track.
The Terrapins are led by their outstanding quarterback, Billy Edwards Jr. His favorite receiver, Tai Felton, is having a breakout season, ranking fourth in the country in receiving yards (719). The Gophers play the Terrapins next week at Huntington Bank Stadium. Kickoff time is 2:30 pm.
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