Oregon Dan Lanning: Koi is "football serious."

[GopherTheJugular]

After dropping $2M on an asset, Lanning certainly isn't going to come out and say he's struggling to grasp the defense and is currently taking 2nd and 3rd team reps.

But if you wanna "read" into the quote, maybe Lanning is saying something like that lol. For example, I'm a software engineer. If I took a new job and after a few months or so someone asked my supervisor about me and if all he said was, "he's computer serious" I'd be a little disappointed and I'd start wondering if I'm going to survive the 90 day review.

 

[MNVCGUY]

I know it's heresy to ever doubt the implicit genius of PJ Fleck on this board, but maybe he wanted to play for a DC that will actually prepare him for the NFL?

Koi may have left for any number of reasons but I highly doubt the DC had anything to do with it.

He was a guaranteed starter in our defense....on a team that has sent multiple DBs to the NFL in recent years. Moving to Oregon does not improve his draft stock but it does potentially hurt it if he gets beaten out by someone else there.

More money, a chance to be in the CFP mix on a yearly basis....more money....plenty of reasons a guy like Koi would make the decision he did.

 

[GreasyGopher]

Koi is Koi serious…

 

[caliGopher]

Koi may have left for any number of reasons but I highly doubt the DC had anything to do with it.

He was a guaranteed starter in our defense....on a team that has sent multiple DBs to the NFL in recent years. Moving to Oregon does not improve his draft stock but it does potentially hurt it if he gets beaten out by someone else there.

More money, a chance to be in the CFP mix on a yearly basis....more money....plenty of reasons a guy like Koi would make the decision he did.

I don't disagree that money was the driver, and anyone who could get the chance to be in the CFP will take it if offered, but to ignore a DC that is so over his head, that he led the Defense against 3 of the 4 worst teams in the B1G, and managed to give up +37% in average yardage in conference in those three games to those teams had a lot to do with the money being much easier to pursue, particularly considering the schedule this year and next will not be as soft as it was last year.

Things may magically improve this year, and the way PJ talks, or rather what he doesn't say, subtracting Koi might be part of the solution. That said, there's not much to suggest Collins is going to help you stand out on draft day. What we don't know is how much of Collins' game planning was behind Koi's performance in 2025. Maybe it is all hubris on Koi's part, pure and simple.

Playing for a DC on a top team nationally, who recruited you to play on a team that can challenge for the CFP in the next two years, is better prep for the NFL.

It's also much easier to be seen as a top draft choice if you can perform on the B1G stage for a top defensive team than to be a diamond in the rough in later rounds coming from a pedantic defense at Minnesota. He'll likely get that chance even if he doesn't feature while at Oregon. Little downside to taking the money and a chance.

 

[DanvilleGopher]

My only beef at this point with Koi is the very obvious dropoff in attitude between Season 1 and Season 2. You could see it from the stands and on the cathode ray tube. Now that we know it all, we did not have lyin' eyes.

It's one thing to chase the money but another to decide to be less-than-elite. Guilty on both counts.

We'll see this year IF this was a conscious decision he made prior to year 2, an attitude change from year 1 due to circumstances within team or defensive dynamics, OR if his skills declined in year 2. I don't have any clue into his work ethic but I do know that last year cannot be repeated IF he wants to make football his career.

These are reasons for me to actually follow what he accomplishes this year... I'm truly curious what happened last year and if it was indeed a harbinger of his future self.

 

[LeftofThaDial]

We'll see this year IF this was a conscious decision he made prior to year 2, an attitude change from year 1 due to circumstances within team or defensive dynamics, OR if his skills declined in year 2. I don't have any clue into his work ethic but I do know that last year cannot be repeated IF he wants to make football his career.

These are reasons for me to actually follow what he accomplishes this year... I'm truly curious what happened last year and if it was indeed a harbinger of his future self.

Koi was completely honest about his motivations coming to Minnesota, it was all about the NFL. I don’t think it’s hard to see why he left for Oregon. Dillon Thieneman had an incredibly similar career path through 2 years. Freshman All American at Purdue, disappointing Sophomore year with PFF grades similar to Koi. Transfers to Oregon for a year and is now a first round pick. That Oregon defense should be nasty next year, and i expect Koi to have a great season.

 

[RememberMurray]

QUOTE:

"Koi was completely honest about his motivations coming to Minnesota, it was all about the NFL. I don’t think it’s hard to see why he left for Oregon. Dillon Thieneman had an incredibly similar career path through 2 years. Freshman All American at Purdue, disappointing Sophomore year with PFF grades similar to Koi. Transfers to Oregon for a year and is now a first round pick. That Oregon defense should be nasty next year, and i expect Koi to have a great season."

Antoine Winfield Jr. played safety as well. He chose to stay right here at Minnesota, and earned unanimous All-American honors. He was a high round pick in the NFL He has since signed a very tasty contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Antoine Winfield, Jr. has done pretty well, I'd say, and he was a Golden Gopher all the way.

 

[MNVCGUY]

It's also much easier to be seen as a top draft choice if you can perform on the B1G stage for a top defensive team than to be a diamond in the rough in later rounds coming from a pedantic defense at Minnesota. He'll likely get that chance even if he doesn't feature while at Oregon. Little downside to taking the money and a chance.

Winfield and Nubin both safeties playing for Minnesota somehow still managed to get drafted in the 2nd round despite the incredibly long odds apparently that come from playing here I guess. If you can play, the NFL will find you.

I don't fault Koi for cashing in. I'm just not willing to pretend like this has anything to do with his NFL prospects.

 

[BilldGopher]

We'll see this year IF this was a conscious decision he made prior to year 2, an attitude change from year 1 due to circumstances within team or defensive dynamics, OR if his skills declined in year 2. I don't have any clue into his work ethic but I do know that last year cannot be repeated IF he wants to make football his career.

These are reasons for me to actually follow what he accomplishes this year... I'm truly curious what happened last year and if it was indeed a harbinger of his future self.

Yep, the only way to test this is to pay attention for the 1-2 years he has being a Duck.

He lost his hustle from Year 1 to Year 2 with us. We'll see if he finds it again in Year 3 at Oregone...

 

[GopherTheJugular]

Winfield and Nubin both safeties playing for Minnesota somehow still managed to get drafted in the 2nd round despite the incredibly long odds apparently that come from playing here I guess. If you can play, the NFL will find you.

I don't fault Koi for cashing in. I'm just not willing to pretend like this has anything to do with his NFL prospects.

I especially don't believe the part about, "even if he doesn't feature while at Oregon" still being better than a 3-4 year starter at Minnesota in terms of draft prospects?

I would think that going to Oregon and not "featuring" would hurt your draft prospects more than staying at MN would.

 

[caliGopher]

Winfield and Nubin both safeties playing for Minnesota somehow still managed to get drafted in the 2nd round despite the incredibly long odds apparently that come from playing here I guess. If you can play, the NFL will find you.

I don't fault Koi for cashing in. I'm just not willing to pretend like this has anything to do with his NFL prospects.

I didn't say that there were long odds to get to the NFL playing here (although there are incredibly long odds for anyone in college football to make it to the NFL). If anything, the odds have been better under PJ Fleck.

That said, Winfield and Nubin both played on significantly better defenses and for significantly better DCs than what was on the field last year. The numbers back it up against a much weaker schedule.

There is a difference between those two things.

We'll have to agree to disagree that a player who plays at a high level on a CFP team for a competent DC is going to be viewed differently than a guy who has all the skills but played in a system that is poorly designed and led to a bad overall defense, but we think he has the right stuff.

Sorry for breaking the golden rule.

 

[GopherTheJugular]

I didn't say that there were long odds to get to the NFL playing here (although there are incredibly long odds for anyone in college football to make it to the NFL). If anything, the odds have been better under PJ Fleck.

That said, Winfield and Nubin both played on significantly better defenses and for significantly better DCs than what was on the field last year. The numbers back it up against a much weaker schedule.

There is a difference between those two things.

And it's very minor in the scheme of things.

We'll have to agree to disagree that a player who plays at a high level on a CFP team for a competent DC is going to be viewed differently than a guy who has all the skills but played in a system that is poorly designed and led to a bad overall defense, but we think he has the right stuff.

That's a different tone than before. You had said he could go there and not "feature" blah blah blah. I get it, you made a claim and your feet are dug in the mud and you'll just start talking in generalities going forward, so....

 

[MNVCGUY]

We'll have to agree to disagree that a player who plays at a high level on a CFP team for a competent DC is going to be viewed differently than a guy who has all the skills but played in a system that is poorly designed and led to a bad overall defense, but we think he has the right stuff.

Sorry for breaking the golden rule.

Nice pivot there. Obviously if he goes to Oregon and plays like a superstar for a CFP level team that would raise his National profile. That is not the argument you were making before though.

In regards to the NFL though, they draft as much on what the think a player will become as what the player was in college.

 

[caliGopher]

tNice pivot there. Obviously if he goes to Oregon and plays like a superstar for a CFP level team that would raise his National profile. That is not the argument you were making before though.

In regards to the NFL though, they draft as much on what the think a player will become as what the player was in college.

No pivot on my part, at all.

What I said was that playing for a competent DC who can better prepare him for the NFL might have factored into his decision to leave.

It's likely Koi could have / would have been drafted if he'd stayed at Minnesota, on that we agree.

I believe Koi is smart enough that he doesn't want to delay his development while Collins figures out how to be a DC. Last year was evidence of just how out of his league Collins was. Koi played for Heatherman in 2025, so he knows what a good DC looks like and how a good DC can build his skill set into game plans. The Oregon DC has 5x the experience of Danny Collins as a DC, and just finished coaching a player in a similar situation into a projected first-round draft pick in this year's draft.

While I don't think that's the only reason (money, being the bigger one both now, and if he can become a first-round draft pick in the NFL is the biggest one), I do think the weakness of our DC opened the door to look elsewhere to find the opportunity to do and be more than he could if he'd stayed and been a Minnesota legend, but not as ready for the NFL if he goes to play for someone focused on developing the defense to play in the CFP, developing among a team of similarly talented players, and be exposed to similar pressures that he'll face in the NFL before he gets there.

There is very little downside - not starting is something you threw out there, but that won't mean he won't get drafted - and a whole lot of upside for a kid that believes in himself and did a pretty good job of doing it on the field as a true Freshman in 2025.

I could be wrong, but I don't believe you can dismiss that notion out of hand. I won't. I wish Koi the best of luck, and we'll see in a year or two if that was a good decision or not.

 

[GopherTheJugular]

No pivot on my part, at all.

No, no, not at all. None whatsoever

What I said was that playing for a competent DC who can better prepare him for the NFL might have factored into his decision to leave.

You also said more than that. Consider your phrase, "diamond in the rough" for one example. Our DBs are not diamonds in the rough that need polishing to play in the NFL anymore than other teams' DBs. Heck, the vikes drafted a safety from a CFP team and he was terrible/wasted pick. Yet our own Gophers have multiple safeties in the NFL.

You also mentioned "later rounds" even though there's plenty of examples of Gophers going earlier than that.

That's the stuff me and @MNVCGUY are referring to.

It's likely Koi could have / would have been drafted if he'd stayed at Minnesota, on that we agree.

Yeah, except you think he'd be some late round project if he stayed here.

There is very little downside - not starting is something you threw out there, but that won't mean he won't get drafted

Geez. You claimed he'd be a late round pick if he stayed here and started. Then you follow up with he could get drafted even if he doesn't start for Oregon? Anything can happen, but I don't think too many teams want to draft college backups, except for a few positions like RB, TE, etc. where there can be a two player rotation at the position. But I don't think backup DBs get much interest in the draft.

 

[gopherbadgerman]

I think its possible he left for money, better coaching, and a bigger platform. All three.

 

[GoldRush]

I think its possible he left for money, better coaching, and a bigger platform. All three.

Maybe you meant this by "bigger platform" but I do think koi definitely likes fame/the spotlight.

 

[FanSinceTheFifties]

I think the worst thing when the Gophers have someone notable transfer out, or a highly rated recruit chooses a different team - is the never ending threads that cover how they are doing at rival schools. I know it is my choice to even open threads like this (and to be fair to myself, I didn't read a single post in here prior to posting this), but it still bugs me.

I'm of the mentality that when people do not choose to play at the U, they are dead to me and although I do not wish any negativity or injury toward them - I am not interested in how they are doing in their new surroundings either.

There will now be a Gopherhole thread for every Perich interview, interception, kickoff return, success, failure, benching, etc. etc. and although I will avoid most of them, their existence will still annoy me.

There might be, but some of it will be because he's a mn kid.

 

[gopherbadgerman]

Maybe you meant this by "bigger platform" but I do think koi definitely likes fame/the spotlight.

Absolutely yes.

 

[Outsider]

I didn't say that there were long odds to get to the NFL playing here (although there are incredibly long odds for anyone in college football to make it to the NFL). If anything, the odds have been better under PJ Fleck.

That said, Winfield and Nubin both played on significantly better defenses and for significantly better DCs than what was on the field last year. The numbers back it up against a much weaker schedule.

There is a difference between those two things.

We'll have to agree to disagree that a player who plays at a high level on a CFP team for a competent DC is going to be viewed differently than a guy who has all the skills but played in a system that is poorly designed and led to a bad overall defense, but we think he has the right stuff.

Sorry for breaking the golden rule.

Do we actually know Oregon’s NEW defensive coordinator is any better than ours? I would argue if he wanted to play for a coordinator to best prepare him for the NFL it would be to play for one who has actually done it well in the NFL. Matt Patricia actually was a defensive coordinator in the NFL of some acumen. It’s all about the money for Koi.

 

[Gopherchase]

Do we actually know Oregon’s NEW defensive coordinator is any better than ours? I would argue if he wanted to play for a coordinator to best prepare him for the NFL it would be to play for one who has actually done it well in the NFL. Matt Patricia actually was a defensive coordinator in the NFL of some acumen. It’s all about the money for Koi.

I guess not, no. But I like his background. Bottom line is if either of our coordinators left and offered to be a coordinator for free for any P4 team that was interested; they’d be unemployed.

 

[Outsider]

I guess not, no. But I like his background. Bottom line is if either of our coordinators left and offered to be a coordinator for free for any P4 team that was interested; they’d be unemployed.

Probably true, but I still say if you wanted to get to the NFL you play for a coordinator who actually has run an NFL defense and pretty much runs one at the Ohio State.

 

[GopherGrit]

After dropping $2M on an asset, Lanning certainly isn't going to come out and say he's struggling to grasp the defense and is currently taking 2nd and 3rd team reps. Last year at this time he was being hyped as the next Travis Hunter. How did that work out? Maybe he's a star. Maybe he's a dud. At this point, it doesn't matter.

Agree with the bold, he would never say that.

But there's also no valid reason to think such a thing is true, in the slightest. They never would've paid him that amount to come there if they didn't think he was coming in to be the replacement for Thieneman in 2026.

 

[Spaulding!No!]

Absolutely yes.

That was not what the mn sports media said about him. Yes, I know. The local sports media lies(see JJ mac is great articles spring summer of 2025) but the message about koi is he is favre wired. Will play football to play football and does not seek attention.

 

[GophersWin!]

Please last article on Koi. In my eyes he is a loser who kicked his fellow Gophers in the groin for more money.

Yes disappointed on how he left. He left with no class. Tells me all I need to know. Move on good bye.

 

[Ope3]

Yes disappointed on how he left. He left with no class. Tells me all I need to know. Move on good bye.

I don't buy the "no class" statement.

Perich played through the Bowl, helped them to victory and to the best of my knowledge has not trashed the Gopher program verbally nor in any either medium.

I'm bummed he left but that's the deal in collegiate sports these days. Next man up.

 

[gopherbadgerman]

That was not what the mn sports media said about him. Yes, I know. The local sports media lies(see JJ mac is great articles spring summer of 2025) but the message about koi is he is favre wired. Will play football to play football and does not seek attention.

Always believe the media!

 

[GopherTheJugular]

But there's also no valid reason to think such a thing is true, in the slightest. They never would've paid him that amount to come there if they didn't think he was coming in to be the replacement for Thieneman in 2026.

Any chance at all they could be realizing they made a mistake, like we did with the oline transfers last year?

 

[GopherGrit]

Any chance at all they could be realizing they made a mistake, like we did with the oline transfers last year?

Based on what?? Winter lifting?

 

[gopherbadgerman]

I don't buy the "no class" statement.

Perich played through the Bowl, helped them to victory and to the best of my knowledge has not trashed the Gopher program verbally nor in any either medium.

I'm bummed he left but that's the deal in collegiate sports these days. Next man up.

Totally agree