Loper signed Tuesday afternoon to play college football at Eastern Oregon University.
Add Us On GoogleAdd as a preferred source on Google
DECLO, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — Even as a 2nd grader, Declo’s Renan Loper knew he wanted to play college football.
Fast forward 10 years, and his childhood dream has come true.
Loper signed Tuesday afternoon to play college football at Eastern Oregon University.
Renan Loper poses with Monty the Mountaineer during his visit to Eastern Oregon.(Jan Loper)
“It hasn’t set in yet that I’ll be playing football next year. Once I get into the summer with non-stop workouts, it’ll probably hit me,” Loper told KMVT. “All the hard work has paid off, and now I get to focus on the rest of the school year.”
Loper was a 3A All-State lineman on both sides of the ball for Declo. On the defensive side, he recorded 69 tackles, nine sacks, and four tackles for loss. On the offensive line, he had 18 pancake blocks and cleared the way for nearly 3,700 total yards.
He helped lead the Hornets to second-place finishes in both his junior and senior seasons.
Now off to a new school, he’s excited for the opportunity but will always cherish his time with Declo and his teammates.
“These are guys I grew up playing with since third grade, so it’s going to be different going to play with different people,e and I’m going to miss that brotherhood,” Loper explained to KMVT. “Declo made me into the athlete and person I am.”
Eastern Oregon head coach Tim Camp was a big reason for joining the Mountaineers.
“He truly cares for his players and helps set players up for after college,” Loper said. “I’m excited to play for him and enjoy the city. ”
The campus is in La Grande, Oregon.
The football team finished 5-6 in 2024 and competes in the NAIA Frontier Conference.
Loper plans to study economics and business, then pursue a career in hospital administration or go to law school.
Copyright 2025 KMVT. All rights reserved.