A Rare Talent Indeed

Following the 2007 season, Whitewater parted ways with probably the best football player to ever put on a Warhawk jersey. Running back Justin Beaver (2004-2007) broke just about every rushing record the school and conference had to offer. Apart from his records and All-American recognitions, his senior year alone he won the Gagliardi Trophy, a national championship, and the Stagg Bowl MVP. Beaver accomplished everything short of preventing the BP oil-leak crises. Coaches, fans, alumni and players knew it would be a long time before a player of that caliber, would walk onto the field in Perkins Stadium again. What they didn't know was they were only nine months away Beaver's second coming.


Coppage (#20) at OPRF High School


Back in 2006, while Beaver was busy breaking records in Whitewater, a junior running back named Levell Coppage was starting to get some attention from DI programs at Oak Park-River Forest High School in Illinois. Like Beaver, Coppage was considered a small running back, which didn't exactly fit the profile of what most DI schools were looking for when recruiting. Never-the-less, his talents could not be ignored, despite his 5'8", 175lb high-school frame. Going into his senior year in 2007, Coppage was interested in the following programs (but no scholarships were offered yet): Ball State, Purdue, Northwestern, Northern Illinois, Kent State and Michigan State. Unfortunately fate gravitated him away from these scholarship-offering schools when he suffered a devastating ankle sprain, cutting his last year short at OPRF. This injury ended up being a deal breaker for most recruiters who considered offering him a scholarship. With Coppage's choices now limited, two of his coaches at OPRF (who happen to have played for the Warhawks) contacted Whitewater head coach Lance Leipold about their senior running back. After reviewing game tapes of Levell, the Whitewater coaching staff instantly knew they MUST get this gifted athlete in Warhawk jersey ASAP.

As as true freshman it didn't take long at all for Coppage to emerge as Whitewater's elite back going into the 2008 season. Even though he was a couple months removed from high school, his abilities to knife through defenses and his elusiveness were too electric for him to be standing on the sidelines. Running back coach Nelson Edmonds and coach Leipold both concurred that it's in the best interest of this year's team if Coppage was their starting running back when the season opened. I can't fathom the pressure Coppage must have felt taking the field for the first time. Especially knowing this program is fresh off a national championship, led by a former All American running back that every UWW fan, alumni and coaching staff greatly admired. Now, even before attending his first college class, Coppage is being asked to fill that void?!?! Yeesh!! After a modest 68-yard game (on 24 carries) to start the season against Saint Xavier (IL), Coppage exploded for 220 yards on 42 carries for only his second-career start, against Eau Claire. From then on the coaching staff knew the choice they made was the correct one, and this kid was a rare DIII talent.

Right around the time most students his age were deciding on a major, Coppage was already putting himself in the record books. As a sophomore he broke Greg Corning's (UWRF) WIAC career touchdown record of 51 touchdowns. I repeat...he broke this career total as a sophomore!! It only took him 27 games to surpass the milestone. It probably would have taken him less time, if he didn't miss two games his freshman year with an injury. Also as a sophomore, he broke Chad Hoisk's (UWEC) WIAC single-season touchdown record (26). Coppage blew it out of the Horicon Marsh by finishing with 35 that year. Hell, the only thing I accomplished my sophomore year was how to drink in the dorms without getting caught.

After taking the hand off, followed by a ever-so-slight hesitation to briefly survey the line, Coppage has an uncanny ability to run between the tackles and seemingly evaporate into the line. At least it must seem that way for defensive lineman, because that's how it looks from my vantage point in the stands. To the D-lineman, finding a 5'9" 190lb aberration mixed in with at least ten 300lb, 6'3" lineman is like trying to spot a designated driver in Miller Park during the playoffs. As quickly as he disappears into the line, he seems to just as quickly explode through the other side glancing up field looking to make a cut. His running style has unmistakable smoothness to it, as he almost seems to glide effortlessly around the field avoiding linebackers trying to square him up. I've been watching him for four years now, I don't think anyone has yet to get a solid hit on him. Coppage's ability to maintain his balance while spinning, juking and side-stepping would-be tacklers is just something you don't see at this level. His go-to move, which is witnessed by Warhawk fans (and frustrated defensive coordinators) on weakly basis, is his Tasmanian Devil cartoon-like spin move. This usually leaves defensive backs flat on their face wonder "what the hell just happened there?" I remember listening to the Whitewater/River Falls game earlier this season, and the River Falls' color guy said what everyone is thinking, "Wow....Levell Coppage should be playing at a higher level. If you could have just seen the move he just made." If you don't believe me.....just ask Trine's defense about the second round of the 2010 playoffs.

Coppage seems to have a knack for playing clutch in important games. He's anything but the athlete who only plays good against lesser teams, then fade away when the defense becomes better in quality. In his first three seasons, Coppage has averaged better than 141 yards per post-season game. Which is 11 yards better per game than his career average. His sophomore year, in the 2009 Stagg Bowl, Coppage gashed Mount Union's defense for 111 yards on 22 carries, and three touchdowns. Earning himself Stagg Bowl MVP 

2009 Stagg Bowl

honors. Just to give you an idea on how good (which is an understatement) Mount's defense was that season, the Purple Raiders' rush defense only surrendered 46 yards per game leading up to the Stagg Bowl (best in all of DIII). As hard as it might be to imagine, Coppage surpassed these numbers in the 2010 Stagg Bowl. The junior rushed for 299 yards (Stagg Bowl record) and tacked on another three TDs. Whitewater fans everywhere will never forget his game-clinching 75-yard touchdown dash to giving the 'Hawks their third Stagg Bowl win in four years. Oh yea....he won the MVP in that Stagg Bowl too. Here's one more nugget before I wrap this up, Mount Union had the ninth best run defense in the country going into the 2010 Stagg Bowl. After the game....they slid down to 16th.

So far this year Levell Coppage and the 'Hawks are looking to make another deep playoff run. I can't guarantee Whitewater will make it seven Stagg Bowls in a row, but I can promise you this: Coppage will be making the most of his senior year as a Warhawk, considering he wasn't able to do so his senior year at OPRF.

On a side note:
I pondered saving this article until the season was over, so I could post his career stats. However, given that he just became the all-time WIAC rushing leader I thought the timing was good now. If you wish to take a further detailed look at his career numbers, the NCAA does a great job of keeping his stats up to-date....as well as other players and teams. When breaking the WIAC rushing record this past weekend, Coppage is the only running back in WIAC history to rush for 1000 yards in each of his four seasons. Also, the senior holds the DIII record for most 100-yard rushing games in a career.