Koi Perich NIL Number with Minnesota Gophers Revealed

This is no longer a world in which college athletes go unpaid. We once argued that tuition and fees were adequate compensation for athletic ability, but those conversations may as well have taken place in the stone age.

Student athletes can now capitalize on their own brand, and for the top high school recruits, it starts early. Minnesota native and true freshman Koi Perich, for example, is already making more than just about everyone who will read this article.

How much NIL money is Koi Perich making with the Minnesota Gophers?

Perich — a 4-star top-75 recruit in the country — decided to stay home and play for the Gophers, over Ohio State, who made a late run at him. Not only is he one of the best recruits in state history, he’s one of the highest-rated commits in Gophers history.

Those prospects don’t come cheap, even if they do want to stay home and become a local legend. So, how much does Koi Perich cost in NIL, as a freshman? According to long-time local insider Charley Walters (Pioneer Press) it’s a quarter-million dollars, and rising.

“Gophers freshman football star Koi Perich is getting $250,000 this season in a name, image and likeness (NIL) deal. That deal will be a lot more next year.”

Charley Walters on Koi Perich’s NIL figure (Pioneer Press)

Related: PFF Grades Confirm: Gophers’ Koi Perich is a True Freshman Phenom

Just 10 games into his collegiate career, Perich has already made that sum look like chump change. He leads the Big Ten, with five interceptions, and has already worked his way into the starting lineup. After originally contributing just on special teams, coach P.J. Fleck simply cannot afford to keep his phenom freshman off the field.

More NIL on the way for true freshman phenom

Minnesota dropped an ugly game to Rutgers over the weekend, but have otherwise shown a capability to hang with quality opponents. The defense has shined at times, and plenty of that has been because of Perich’s influence. If the Gophers are going to beat a ranked Penn State team at home in a couple of weeks, he’ll likely make a mark on that outcome as well.

This interception from Koi Perich for @GopherFootball is a work of art 🤩

📍 @novavax pic.twitter.com/w6ctp5FGh1

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 6, 2024

The reality is that each time Perich stands out, the more difficult it gets to keep him home. The transfer portal has basically become free agency in college sports. Perich has once opted against leaving the state, but money will definitely talk. There is no way the standout safety will play for Minnesota at $250,000 next year, and needing to push him towards his first million isn’t unfathomable.

Related: What We Learned About the Minnesota Gophers in Soul Crushing Loss vs Rutgers

What Perich has already accomplished to this point in his collegiate career is impressive. The more consistently he performs as such, the more realistic he becomes the next great safety from Minnesota. The payday is sure to follow.