In this article series, we take a look at currently unsigned high school talent from within the state of West Virginia that should earn a look -- or even an offer -- from current WVU coaching and recruiting staff.
Today, we head to the Eastern Panhandle to take a look at the 2024 Gatorade Player of the Year and MetroNews Player of the Year -- Martinsburg quarterback Koi Fagan.
KOI FAGAN - QB, MARTINSBURG HIGH SCHOOL
For those around WV wondering what makes @MburgFootball's Koi Fagan (@champkoi) so special, and why he's a favorite to win the Kennedy:
— WV Sports Talk (@SportsTalk_304) December 21, 2024
It's not just the fact that he threw for 2,264 yards and 33 TDs, and ran for 1,836 yards and 28 TDs, but how he's able to make ridiculous… pic.twitter.com/FwAivuVqwI
Fagan is a member of the Class of 2025, having just finished his senior season. However, he has only two offers posted to his Twitter/X account -- one from Ivy League and D1 FCS program Brown, and the other from NAIA program Rio Grande (OH). He has taken visits over the past season to WVU, as well as Marshall and FCS program Mercyhurst.
The lack of substantial interest so far is likely due to a combo of being a bit undersized -- Fagan is just 6'0 and 170 pounds, according to what he lists on his social media -- and the fact that he comes from West Virginia, a state where talent is often overlooked. But Fagan should not be taken lightly as a future collegiate star at one level or another.
One reason Fagan might fit extremely well at WVU has to do with his dual-threat capabilities -- Fagan runs a 4.57 40-yard dash, and his offensive stat line demonstrates his speed well. Fagan passed for a modest 2,264 yards and 33 touchdowns during his senior season, but was just as efficient with his legs as his arms -- he racked up 1,836 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns. For those keeping track, that's an average of more than 4 offensive touchdowns per game.
“It comes down to players making plays. Everybody that hadn’t seen Koi Fagan play got to see him and he’s special," current Martinsburg Head Coach and former Division 2 collegiate coach Dave Walker told MetroNews following the WVSSAC Class AAAA State Championship earlier this month.
It's well known that dual-threat quarterbacks typically excel under the style of offense ran by current WVU Head Coach Rich Rodriguez -- just take a look at the incredible career of former WVU quarterback Pat White during Rodriguez's first stint in Morgantown, or Denard Robinson electrifying the Big 10 for Rodriguez at Michigan. And if Fagan's passing skills can't measure up to the collegiate level, his speed and running abilities could easily translate into a career at running back as well.
“Koi Fagan is an unbelievable player,” Spring Mills quarterback Max Anderson told MetroNews. “We know he’s going to run the ball and he’s still running the ball 80 yards. He’s a great player and battled his butt off.”
“He should have a great career somewhere,” Walker said. “He really should.”