P.J. Fleck uses a variation of a cautionary quote attributed to Theodore Roosevelt.

“Don’t let comparisons steal your joy,” the Gophers football coach has said over the years.

But this preseason, Koi Perich has been associated with Travis Hunter in banner headlines for online posts and videos. It’s grandiose, drowning in recency bias, but also intriguing to ponder.

As a true freshman last fall, Perich was a first-team all-Big Ten safety and a dangerous return man on punts and kickoffs. This season, the Esko, Minn., product is attempting to add a to-be-determined offensive role to his repertoire.

This foray comes a year after Hunter’s incredible multitasking at receiver and cornerback catapulted him to the Heisman Trophy and a slew of other awards during his junior campaign at Colorado.

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