Jennifer Hoffer – Sports Editor
Willie Epps played his last game as a senior last season.
Epps ended his career being ranked second all-time at Southern in receiving yards. Epps was also awarded All-Conference accolades for the third consecutive year. Throughout his four years here, Epps lead the Owls wide receivers in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns.
Epps redshirted his freshman year and said having the opportunity to look up to and be taught by more experienced players was a good introduction to the team. He said he learned exactly what the offense was about and what exactly Southern football was about.
“My experience here was pretty unique,” Epps said. “I had the opportunity to learn from older guys when I came in here in 2008 which seems like just yesterday.”
After his redshirt freshman year, he started all fours years, forming a great relationship with former Head Coach, Rich Cavanaugh.
“He’s the best coach I’ve ever had,” Epps said. “He taught me everything I know about college football and taught me how to actually be successful and thrive in the sport.”
But Epps’ football career is not over just yet.
Epps was selected to play in the National Bowl game on Dec. 8.
The game was hosted in Miami, Fla. on Sunday. Epps was invited to play in the same Bowl last year in Pennsylvania.
The National Bowl game is a Division I AA FCS and Division II and III All-Star game.
Epps said he had the opportunity to participate in the game last year, but it was short lived.
“In the first quarter I tore my ACL it really ruined the experience for me,” Epps said.
Epps was ecstatic when he was once again invited to the game this year.
“During the summer time when I was doing all the rehab I got an email out of nowhere from the guy who runs it and he said we wanted me back,” Epps said. “He said he wanted me to get my fair opportunity. And to be honest I was looking for another opportunity because I felt my opportunity slipped away from me by getting the injured that year.”
It wasn’t a walk in the park for Epps when he got the injury, he said. It was his first injury ever in football during the fourteen years he’s been playing.
It was his first ever injury in football. “I was very depressed,” Epps said. “I’ve been playing football since I was nine and the ACL injury happened.”
Epps said he stayed healthy throughout all his years at Southern so it was new for him to deal with an injury such as this.
“I can see if I was injured before whether it be in high school or college,” Epps said. “I’d definitely feel differently about it but it just came out of nowhere. It really took a toll on me. But for me to get that news, that re-invite, definitely re-sparked the flame in me. It was great.”
Epps started rehabbing after his injury so he said he could get stronger for this game. He said he rehabbed three times a week right here on Southern’s campus with Head Athletic Trainer, Carol Nelson.
“Once I got to three four months post-surgery, I just took away from there and started doing workouts on my own,” Epps said. “I was able to run and Carol just told me to continue doing my regular and to just work on getting stronger.
Despite Epps’ early exit from the Bowl game last year, he still said he took away a great experience and great memories.
“It was so much fun,” Epps said. “There were the best college football players from Division I AA II and III from all across the country that came to play in this one game.”
Epps said that each player were assigned certain teams before they even got to the facility in Pennsylvania so that they could prepare.
“And once we got there, we had athlete agent meeting so we got to talk with agents on how exactly you go about getting an agent and what it takes to play at the next level,” Epps said.
A double-practice day then took place on Saturday, the day before the Bowl game. At this practice, Epps said players were able to get their official measurements done by NFL teams. The Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Rams took Epps’ measurements, he said. Some players were able to have a formal interview with the teams, Epps said, and he was one of them.
“I interviewed with the Chiefs,” Epps said. “You’d be surprised on the kind of questions you get asked. It gets really personal. They care how you play football, but they want to know more about your personal life. It was a pretty cool experience.”
On Sunday the Bowl game took place but Epps said it was very different from what he was used to on a regular college football stage.
“There was a lot of press,” Epps said. “It’s different from a regular college game but it was a great experience.”
And Epps, said the reason for him going back is because teams showed interest in him last year
“If I didn’t have the opportunity where the teams didn’t show interest in me in Pennsylvania last year, I think I would have hung the cleats up after that injury,” Epps said. “Because ACL injuries are pretty common and they can definitely take a toll on an athlete. If I didn’t have teams expressing interest than I definitely wouldn’t have called it quits.”
Epps said he just wants to stay healthy for the game.
“Hopefully by the grace of God I say healthy,” Epps said. “If stay healthy then I definitely will have a shot.”
Even when Epps was playing here at Southern, teams were interested in him, Epps said.
“I had teams expressing interest in me my senior year,” Epps said. “The Atlanta Falcons came to see me and Jerome Cunningham. They came and interviewed both of us. Jerome actually went to the Indianapolis colts. And I’m really happy for him.”
Epps said he is both nervous and excited, but more so nervous.
“It’s been a year since I strapped on some pads,” Epps said. I’ve run routes and stuff like that but being out of the game for a year is kind of nerve-wracking. But I don’t think it’s going to have that much of a toll on me because football is second nature to me. Like I said I’ve been playing since I was nine. I love it it’s a rush, it’s extreme rush.”
“Its gonna be amazing. Friday, Saturday on Sunday,” Epps said. “If I stay healthy something could definitely come out of it.”
Epps said he knows what to expect now and thinks it will be similar to the bowl weekend last year the only thing, he said, that will be different is the weather.
“It’s a huge weather change,” Epps said. “I was playing football in 32 degree weather in Pennsylvania last December. Now this December it’s going to be in 82-degree weather in Miami, Florida.
The game was held at FIU stadium.
