Minnesota Amasses Top Football/Track and Field Talents

Makoi Perich recently committed to the University of Minnesota for football, he is also a standout track and field athlete

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The University of Minnesota yesterday picked up a big football commitment for their class of 2024 when Makoi Perich, a four-star safety from Esko announced that he had committed to the Gophers. Perich is the second-ranked football player for the class of 2024 in Minnesota and the 28th-ranked safety nationally. 

But why does that matter?

Because Perich is also one of the top track and field athletes in Minnesota for his class. 

The last time we saw Perich compete was at the 2022 MSHSL State Track and Field Championships where he was the Class A long jump state champion. He also finished 6th in the triple jump and 15th in the 200m prelims. 

There is a longstanding crossover between the sports of football and track and field as their seasons don't overlap and many football players use the track and field season to stay in shape and for the chance to compete in the spring. 

This is very evident in the University of Minnesota's football classes of 2023 and 2024. Those classes include twelve of the top twenty in-state recruits (so far) in Minnesota and of those twelve athletes, nine of them have track and field experience in Minnesota.

Class of 2023

Class of 2024

Alongside state champion Perich, you have a 2022 Class AAA state qualifier in Martin Owusu, a versatile multi-event athlete in Alex Elliott and Mason Carrier, and Simon Seidl with 11.04/22.36 speed. 

This is also just the football recruits that are staying in Minnesota and going to the University of Minnesota. You also have Jaxon Howard, last year's state runner-up in Class AAA for the discus and shot put, going to Louisiana State University, and 3X state qualifier Elinneus Davis going to the University of Washington for the class of 2023.