Koi Perich cites ‘winning program’ in reason for transfer to Oregon
Earlier this week, Oregon Ducks QB Dylan Raiola talked about the "blueprint" at Oregon of coming in as a highly rated prospect out of high school and sitting for a year with the Ducks to learn, develop, and then flourish. While the track record for that at the quarterback position is strong, you could argue that the "blueprint" of transfer defensive backs is ever stronger.
A year ago, it was Purdue Boilermakers star safety Dillon Thieneman who transferred to Oregon and balled out, now projected to be a first-round pick in next week's NFL draft. Before him, guys like Christian Gonzalez and Khyree Jackson did the same thing. Now? It's Koi Perich's turn to fit the mold.
“Going in the portal, I just really wanted to be on a national contending team," Perich said in his first Oregon media availability on Thursday. "Oregon has been in the College Football Playoff, I'm pretty sure, every year. So they are obviously a winning program."
However, the 1-to-1 comparison of Perich and Thieneman may not be apt. While they are both dynamic and versatile safeties who can champion the CCU (Caucasian Collision Unit), Perich wants to be his own man and leave his own mark.
"I just think I'm my own player," Perich said. "Obviously, Dillon's a very special player, first-round draft pick. But I'm just doing what I do good and try to promote my strengths."
Of course, the comparisons are going to come throughout his time in Eugene, whether he likes it or not. What matters, though, is that he is on a team projected to make it back to the CFP once again, and a place where he has a little bit of familiarity already. A year ago, Perich got a chance to play inside Autzen, albeit in a blowout loss to the Ducks. However, the lasting memory was the atmosphere, one that he says his family quickly fell in love with.
"My parents, my aunt, and my uncle, they all said this was their favorite game with all the fans and how interactive they are with the game," Perich said. "It was the 'Shout!' they really loved that."
While the Perich's are going to get to experience the fun side of "Shout!" going forward, there's going to be some getting used to the distance between Koi and the rest of the family. Growing up in Minnesota and then playing his first two seasons with the Golden Gophers, this is the first time that Koi has been this far from home. However, that was a major selling point during his recruitment.
"That was one of the biggest things I was looking forward to going into the portal," Perich said. "I just wanted to get out of my comfort zone. I feel like you grow the most when you're out of it. And being super far away from home, this is my first time, obviously. So just getting up each and every day, I feel like it was a different mindset for me, because I'm not comfortable. And when you're uncomfortable, you grow the best."
Perich is growing at Oregon and taking solace in the fact that he's now at a program with a track record of turning highly talented players into future NFL stars. If he were to follow along the path of Thieneman, it would leave him in a great spot. However, Perich wants to put his mark on things.
"Dillon is going to be a first-round pick, so I’m just hoping to do what he did and just do it in my version.”
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Koi Perich: ‘Winning program’ led to Oregon transfer
