Gophers turn to Koi Perich as punt returner with Quentin Redding out for season

Quentin Redding has been the Gophers’ primary punt and kickoff returner since his freshman season in 2022. So, when the news came Saturday that the junior will miss the remainder of the season because of an undisclosed injury suffered last week against Rhode Island, coach P.J. Fleck had to go into next-man-up mode.

Turns out, the next man up in this case is someone Fleck and Minnesota’s fan base is eager to see.

Koi Perich, the true freshman safety from Esko, Minn., took over as the Gophers’ primary punt returner in Saturday’s 27-0 victory over Nevada at Huntington Bank Stadium. He had returns of 16 and 6 yards, following up a 28-yard effort he had against Rhode Island.

“I’ve really never had a freshman that — I don’t know what the word is — enlightens me, makes me feel calm and also like, how do you just make me feel so calm that quickly? He’s a really special talent. He’s gotta keep molding that.

“Every time he touches the football,” Fleck added, “I just sit there and go, ‘Oh my gosh, something good’s gonna happen.’ "

The news on Redding, a junior from Menominee Falls, Wis., came when the Big Ten released its availability report two hours before kickoff. The Gophers also had to adjust their kickoff return personnel, with Le’Meke Brockington and Jordan Nubin assuming duties. Brockington returned the opening kick 14 yards to the 14, and that was the only kickoff the Gophers returned because Nevada did not score.

The Gophers made a couple of changes on their starting offensive line, moving Quinn Carroll from right guard to right tackle in place of Martes Lewis and making Ashton Beers the starter at right guard. Carroll had started the season’s first two games at right guard, but the coaching staff decided his skills were needed at right tackle to shore up that position. Beers, a third-year sophomore, made his first career start.

Saturday’s game was Nevada quarterback Brendon Lewis’ second chance at facing the Gophers. He came up empty again.

As a redshirt freshman in 2021, Lewis started for Colorado in its 30-0 loss to the Gophers in Boulder. Lewis had a day he’d like to forget, completing eight of 16 passes for 55 yards and being sacked four times for 31 yards in losses. Minnesota held the Buffaloes to minus-19 rushing yards for the game.

This meeting didn’t go any better for Lewis, who completed 15 of 23 passes for 114 yards with three interceptions. He also was sacked four times for 27 yards lost and finished with 10 carries for minus-1 yard.

• During the KFXN pregame show, Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle reacted to the news that the Pac-12 is adding Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State. “Unfortunately, nothing surprises me anymore,” he said. “… It’s really good that we’re legacy members of the Big Ten Conference.”