‘It was super close’ – Big Ten star defender who Ohio State will see this year admits he was nearly a Buckeye
The Ohio State Buckeyes have three of their top players, along with head coach Ryan Day, in Las Vegas this week for Big Ten Football Media Days. Coming off a national championship, the Buckeyes brought safety Caleb Downs, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, and linebacker Sonny Styles to represent the program in Vegas. One interesting storyline […]
The Ohio State Buckeyes have three of their top players, along with head coach Ryan Day, in Las Vegas this week for Big Ten Football Media Days.
Coming off a national championship, the Buckeyes brought safety Caleb Downs, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, and linebacker Sonny Styles to represent the program in Vegas.
One interesting storyline to emerge involved a player Ohio State once recruited heavily—though perhaps a little too late.
Minnesota safety Koi Perich opens up about his Ohio State recruitment
Koi Perich, now a standout safety for Minnesota, was one of Ohio State’s top remaining targets in the 2024 class. The star sophomore, who had five interceptions last season, reflected on his recruitment and how close he came to choosing the Buckeyes.
“It was super close. It came down to the last day,” Perich said. “Ohio State is Ohio State, and what I liked more about Minnesota was ultimately just their NFL safeties and what they did in that.”
Minnesota has produced several NFL-caliber safeties in recent years, including Tyler Nubin and Antoine Winfield Jr. When asked whether an earlier push from Ohio State might have changed things, Perich wasn’t quite sure.
“I don’t know. It happened the way it happened, and I don’t try to change the past.”
Perich finished as a top-80 prospect nationally and the No. 1 player in Minnesota for the 2024 class. In today’s era of NIL and the transfer portal, a move to a school like Ohio State could still be an option for a player of his caliber. However, Perich appears poised to be a three-and-done NFL Draft prospect out of Minnesota.
Ohio State, meanwhile, landed Jaylen McClain and Leroy Roker at safety in the same class. Both are expected to have roles on the 2025 team. Still, it’s hard not to wonder what a safety duo of Caleb Downs and Koi Perich might have looked like in Columbus. It would’ve been something special. The Buckeyes will host Minnesota in Week 6 on Oct. 4 and it’ll be the first time Perich goes up against the Buckeyes.
‘It’s gonna be hard to do that’ – Michigan HC Sherrone Moore makes strong admission about Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith
Moore with some high praise for the Buckeye.
