Koi Perich is one of the best freshman football players in the country and is exactly where he wants to be at the University of Minnesota. While the threat of the transfer window and big money through the NIL will remain a threat, Perich is focused on the now and the current version of the Gophers is, in his eyes, one of the best teams in the nation.

“I think since Michigan we’ve literally changed our emotions and we know we’re one of the best teams in the country and we’re a top 10 team, easily,” Perich said during an in-studio appearance on KFAN-FM 100.3 Monday. “Obviously, in college football, everybody’s a good team. Anybody can beat anybody any day, but I love our team and I have a lot of confidence.”

At first glance, calling the Gophers one of the top teams in the country is a stretch. But that might be the case in the official rankings if not for an early-season inability to play a full 60 minutes. They missed a field goal that would have given them a win over North Carolina in the season opener; had a lead at halftime and got pounded in the second half by Iowa; and were down three scores to Michigan before a controversial offside call on a field goal cost them a chance to win.

Now that Perich has named the Gophers a top-10 team, the pressure is on to prove it Saturday at the No. 24 Illinois and then at home against no. 3 Penn State on Nov. 23. If Perich is right and the Gophers can play at a high level for 60 minutes, then four wins to end the season with a seven-game winning streak is not out of the realm of possibility.

Perich, whose agent Blake Baratz confirmed future NIL contracts with General Mills and the Gushers, chose to stay home and play for head coach PJ Fleck and the Gophers over offers from Ohio State and Florida State. Why did he stay at home?

“I have two things. Obviously my first thing for me was the NFL. My whole dream, my whole life was to go to the NFL and the last two safeties that played my positions were drafted very high in Antoine Winfield and Jordan Nubin , but also Jordan Howden,” explained Perich.

“This is a safety school. If you’re a safety school, I think you should come here. And I also believe in what coach Fleck has done for this program and where we’re going. I feel like the next two years. We’re going to keep getting better and better and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Perich, who believes LeBron James is the GOAT of basketball and models his football skills after star safeties like Ed Reed, Brian Dawkins, Jesse Bates and Derwin James, played in five games as a true freshman and is second in the nation with five interceptions. . His last pick featured a 45-yard punt return against Maryland that he regrets not bringing back for a touchdown.

“Actually, I have no vision right there. I should have scored,” Perich claimed. “I’ve got to score. I’ve got to get a touchdown. That’s the only thing I want.”

While it’s all fun and games at this point, every big play Perich makes adds to the threat of another team offering significant NIL money and sponsorships to steal through the transfer portal. When KFAN’s Paul Allen asked Perich about the portal, Perich kept his focus on what’s in front of him.

“I don’t try to focus too much on the future. I just focus on what tomorrow will bring me or what today will bring me,” he said. “I feel like it’s too much to look that far into the future and whatever is presented to me at that point, I’m going to make my (inaudible) decision and I’m going to do it.”

For now, Perich is in maroon and gold, and the future in Minnesota is bright.