Kansas Pregame 8-Man Top 8: Creyo Koop

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. 

West Elk senior running back and linebacker Creyo Koop leaves behind a legacy as one of the most productive players in Kansas 8-Man football history. Koop’s stellar senior season powered the Patriots to a 9-1 record and a second-round playoff appearance in the 8-Man Division I playoffs, where they fell to eventual state semifinalist Little River 34-14.

“Creyo has a huge impact on his teammates,” West Elk head coach Chris Haag said. “He has a stellar work ethic, and his teammates respond to him. He never takes a play off, whether it be in practice or in a game. He leads by example, and all of his teammates rally around him.”

Koop’s senior season showcased his versatility and playmaking ability. He rushed for 748 yards and 25 touchdowns on 107 carries, averaging 7.0 yards per carry, and added 731 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns on 27 receptions. He contributed 1727 all-purpose yards and averaged 172.7 yards per game. Defensively, Koop recorded 99 total tackles, including 82 solo stops, and added one sack and two interceptions. On special teams, he totaled 248 return yards and scored two kickoff return touchdowns.

“I feel that Creyo's greatest strength is how hard he competes on the field,” Haag said. “He has a motor that never stops and hates to lose. He is a sensational football player and has the capability of making a huge play every time he touches the ball!”

One of Koop’s standout plays from his senior season came against Oxford in Week 2. Faced with a rare opportunity to field a kickoff, the senior made the most of it.

“Teams would not kick to him, and I don’t blame them,” Haag said. “However, one kick went past our front line, and Creyo sprinted up to field it. He then took it the distance, making numerous players miss and outran everyone to the end zone!”

Over his career, Koop amassed 4,712 rushing yards and 110 touchdowns on 534 carries, alongside 1,358 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns on 58 receptions. He set state records with 151 total touchdowns and 1,076 career points, the latter of the two also tying the national ponits in a career record according to the National Federation of State High Schools Association. On defense, Koop totaled 324 tackles, 12 sacks, seven interceptions, and seven fumble recoveries. He holds West Elk career records for rushing yards, receiving yards, touchdowns, and tackles.

Koop’s achievements were monumental for West Elk, as he broke career school records in rushing yards, receiving yards, and touchdowns while also becoming the program's all-time leader in tackles. A four-year starter at running back and linebacker, Koop earned numerous postseason honors during his career and cemented his legacy as one of the most decorated and prolific players in school history.

Koop, who is also one of the top wrestlers in Kansas, is currently undecided on his post-graduation plans, but plans to play football at the next level. He'll get at least one more opportunity to play football at the high school level after he was chosen as one of the 8-Man selections to play in this summer's Kansas Shrine Bowl.