MartinsburgÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Koi Fagan celebrates with his teammates following the Class AAAA state high school football championship game against Spring Mills at UC Stadium in Charleston Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024.
MartinsburgÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Koi Fagan celebrates with his teammates following the Class AAAA state high school football championship game against Spring Mills at UC Stadium in Charleston Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024.
MarshallÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s football team received a commitment from Kennedy Award winner Koi Fagan on Wednesday, announced by Fagan on social media.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThank you God! Excited to begin this next chapter,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ FaganÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s post said.
The Kennedy Award is a yearly award given to the best high school football player in West Virginia, as voted upon by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association. MartinsburgÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s quarterback was also the West Virginia Gatorade Football Player of the Year for the 2024 season ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” the second straight Bulldog to win the award.
Fagan led the Bulldogs to the first-ever Class AAAA state championship back in December with an 80-yard touchdown run that broke a final tie to beat Spring Mills 24-17.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m so proud of him and the things that he has brought to us and our program,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Martinsburg coach Dave Walker said after that game. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œHe has made us better.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
It was MartinsburgÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s 11th state championship in the last 15 seasons as Fagan comes from a place that knows how to win just about better than anyone.
FaganÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s commitment photo lists him as a quarterback, where he accounted for 61 total touchdowns in 2024. He listed the position as a preference during his recruitment process.
The Bulldogs won 14 games, not counting one they later forfeited due to an eligibility violation.
The 6-foot, 175-pound senior had 29 carries for 345 yards and two touchdowns in the state championship game while also passing for a touchdown.
On that passing play, Fagan showed his ability to adapt to high-pressure situations. He was forced to chase down a snap that had gone over his head. He recovered it and found a receiver in the corner of the end zone.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI just saw the ball,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Fagan said after that game. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI had to pick it up, and I knew that I had to make a play on third down. I saw (receiver) Boston (Todd) wide open in the back of the end zone. I had to get it into a place that he could get it. He did a great job of going up and getting the ball.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
He finished his final high school season with 1,848 rushing yards at an average of 9.6 yards per carry. He completed 133 of 211 passes for 2,264 yards.
Fagan was also named captain of the Class AAAA all-state first team.
Walker lauded Fagan for his leadership. Fagan lists his GPA as 4.57 and received an offer from Ivy LeagueÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Brown University during his recruitment process.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe talk about overcoming adversity all the time,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Walker said after the state championship. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI thought we did that. The kids really rally around Koi ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” how he cares for them and the work he puts in. His habits are phenomenal. Guys gravitate toward guys like that. Everyone lifted him up.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
National signing day is set for next Wednesday, Feb. 5. Fagan, along with the rest of the HerdÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s newcomers, will become part of the roster on that date leading into spring practice.
{div class=”x_elementToProof” data-olk-copy-source=”MessageBody”}Tyler Kennett is a sports writer for The Herald-Dispatch. Reach him at tkennett@hdmediallc.com. Follow @tylerkennett on X.{/div}
