Kansas Pregame 8-Man Top 8: Lucas Kirk

Kansas Pregame polled 8-Man coaches earlier this month who voted for the top four seniors they coached against this season. Kansas Pregame staffers then used those votes to develop a Top 8 list of seniors for each division. Check out several more Top 8 capsules below, and find the complete list of Top 8 selections, and the honorable mention list, here for 8-Man I and here for 8-Man II. 

Bucklin senior Lucas Kirk was a key contributor on both sides of the ball and on special teams during the 2024 football season, helping lead the Red Aces to a 9-1 record. A versatile athlete who played quarterback, defensive back, and punter, Kirk’s efforts were central to Bucklin’s success, which ended in a narrow overtime playoff loss to Hodgeman County.

“Lucas has a tremendous impact on his teammates on and off the field,” Bucklin head coach Trever Powell said. “He is a very good leader and shows up every day ready to work and lead by example. He sets high standards for himself and holds to it while also bringing other guys along.”

Kirk’s senior campaign showcased his dynamic skill set. Offensively, he passed for 1,036 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 671 yards and 16 touchdowns. Defensively, he recorded 94 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and six interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. As a punter, he was an All-State selection, averaging 35.8 yards per punt.

“He is very smart and has a high football IQ,” Powell said. “He knows where everyone needs to be and picks up on things very quickly. He did a great job of communicating with his teammates on both sides of the ball and getting everyone to play at a high level. It also helps that he was one of the fastest players on the field.”

A defining moment of Kirk’s senior season came during Bucklin’s playoff game against Hodgeman County. Facing a two-score deficit on a rainy, muddy night, Kirk kept his team in the game with his composure and playmaking ability. 

“Lucas strung it out to the last second to where even I thought he would pitch it, and he turned upfield and ran for a 50-yard touchdown,” Powell said. “ ... that score gave us the momentum we needed to get a stop on defense, which we then drove down, and he scored again scrambling off of a pass play to send it into overtime. We ultimately lost the game in overtime, ending our season at 9-1, but I couldn’t have been prouder. He really showed how much of a tough, competitive kid he was.”

Kirk finishes his football career with 3,303 passing yards and 55 touchdowns, along with 2,179 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns. On defense, he accumulated 269 tackles and 10 interceptions over four years. His accolades include back-to-back Sports in Kansas 8-Man Division II All-State honors in 2023 and 2024. He was also named an All-State punter in his final season.

Athleticism runs in the family for Kirk, who is a first cousin of senior JT Prusa of South Central, a fellow 2024 Kansas Pregame 8-Man Top 8 selection.

Not limited to success on the gridiron, Kirk excels in basketball and track. Currently averaging 9.5 points and four rebounds per game on the hardwood, he has been a key player for Bucklin in both of the last two seasons. In track, he has medaled at the state meet in each season, last year taking third in the 110-meter hurdles and seventh in the 300-meter hurdles. 

After graduation, Kirk plans to continue his track career in college while majoring in finance.