Fans get first glimpse of sophomore Gophers football sensation Koi Perich

Fans got their first glimpse of the 2025 Gophers football team on Saturday night at Huntington Bank Stadium during the F.A.M.I.L.Y. Day practice. They saw a team that’s breaking in a new quarterback, developing wide receiver targets, finding depth along both lines and flashing some star power on defense.

A week into training camp, the Gophers and their coaching staff have a picture of where they stand with the Aug. 28 season opener against Buffalo at Huntington Bank Stadium approaching quickly.

Here are some observations from Saturday’s practice:

The Gophers don’t release a depth chart, so starters aren’t officially known until game time. At quarterback, though, it’s clear that redshirt freshman Drake Lindsey will be under center when the season opens. The Fayetteville, Ark., native has taken the bulk of the first-team practice snaps since January, and that didn’t change Saturday.

So, how did Lindsey look?

Solid, when provided time in the pocket, but less consistent when a defensive lineman was in his face.

Lindsey showed that he’s developed a rapport with Miami (Ohio) transfer wideout Javon Tracy, who could become his go-to guy. The QB also found UCLA transfer Logan Loya with a pinpoint throw during a live drill, showing off his strong arm.

“From where he was last year to where he is this year is night and day.” Fleck said. “And I thought he grew as a true freshman maybe more than any true freshman I’ve ever had. … He’s handling the offense really well. And again, 90 percent of the offense is in, and it’s not a very simple offense."

While Lindsey might be the most important player for the Gophers this season — as the starting quarterback is for most teams — the most popular player among the fan base clearly is Koi Perich, the sophomore safety and return man who will also have a role on offense this season. On Saturday, Fleck didn’t shy away from giving fans a glimpse of what Perich can do, knowing that opponents already have their radar up regarding the playmaker. If they’re spying to see how the Gophers are using their preseason All-America selection, so be it.

“We’re not going to show everything,” Fleck said. “There’s a wide-open crowd.”

What the Gophers did show was Perich — sporting a half-maroon, half-white jersey — all over the field. In a 7-on-7 drill, Perich first took a swing pass from Lindsey for a 7-yard gain. Two plays later, the reins were off and Perich beat Iowa transfer John Nestor on a deep route for a hookup with Lindsey of roughly 70 yards, pleasing the crowd.

Later in 11-on-11 drills, Perich alternated plays between offense and defense, showing no signs of slowing down.

The Gophers frequently rotated defensive players, and a couple of linebackers caught Fleck’s eye: Matt Kingsbury and Emmanuel Karmo.

“Kingsbury, he’s a football player,” Fleck said of the third-year sophomore. “… He’s violent as he plays, he’s tough, he’s strong, he’s smart, he’s athletic, he’s one step ahead of people."

Karmo, a true freshman who played at Cooper and was the top-ranked Minnesotan in the 2025 recruiting class, lined up in a variety of roles.

“He’s very multiple. He’s versatile,” Fleck said. “You can be really creative with him. But again, it’s still his true freshman year. You can’t overload him, either.”

Through one week of training camp, Fleck sees a team that he believes has processed all that the coaching staff has asked.