A breakout junior season has resulted in increased attention on the recruiting trail for Esko (MN) High safety Koi Perich. It continued Friday when he visited Iowa for its game against Nebraska.

Perich (6-2, 185) reported a scholarship offer from the Hawkeyes. Home-state Minnesota offered last month, and Nebraska came forward on Nov. 5 during a visit to Lincoln.

He stopped at Notre Dame last weekend. He traveled to Iowa City on the day after Thanksgiving.

“The facility tour was pretty awesome,” Perich told HF. “They’ve got it set up pretty nice, and it looks amazing.”

Iowa running back coach Ladell Betts recruits Minnesota for the program. He invited Perich to town for the game and delivered good news when the prospect arrived at Kinnick Stadium.

“Coach Betts came up to me on the field, and we talked for a bit. He offered me right there. Iowa is one of the better defenses in the country and getting an offer from them is pretty cool,” Perich said.

The Hawkeyes rank fifth nationally in total defense (277.9 yards per game) and sixth in scoring defense (14.4 points per game). That dominance stands out to Perich.

“The mindset their defense has knowing they are good and showing it week in and week out is super impressive. I love that about them,” he said.

As a junior, Perich racked up 1,616 all-purpose yards and 26 touchdowns. That included 60 rushes for 813 yards (13.6 yards per carry) and 11 scores, and 17 receptions for 354 yards and 9 TDs. Defensively, he piled up 75 tackles, forced four fumbles, intercepted three passes and recorded two sacks. He accumulated 455 combined yards with five touchdowns.

247Sports ranks Perich as the No. 5 player overall in the ’24 Minnesota prep class. The service sees him as the 55th best safety nationally in the cycle.