By Jeff Bugher
Introducing a new series that shines a spotlight on former Wyoming Cowboys currently making their mark in the NFL. Our inaugural featured player is Marcus Epps, a Safety for the Las Vegas Raiders. Join us as we trace Marcus's journey from his college days to the NFL, even including a remarkable stop at the Super Bowl.
In the realm of college football success stories, the name Josh Allen often takes the spotlight, but let's shift the focus to another exceptional talent: Marcus Epps. Hailing from California, Epps faced an uphill battle with zero Division I offers, a scenario reminiscent of Allen's journey. However, Epps's path led him to Wyoming, where he walked on to the team, displaying an unwavering "Cowboy Tough" spirit. His determination took him from the sunny shores of California to the frosty plains of Laramie, embodying the resilience and grit synonymous with Wyoming athletes.
Career at Wyoming
2015 Season (Redshirt Freshman):
In his redshirt freshman year, Epps played safety for Wyoming and participated in 11 games. He recorded 83 total tackles, including 59 solo tackles and 24 assisted tackles. He also made 2 interceptions for 27 yards, defended 4 passes, and forced 1 fumble.
2016 Season (Sophomore):
Epps transitioned to the defensive back position and contributed significantly in 14 games. He recorded 111 total tackles, comprising 72 solo tackles and 39 assisted tackles. He excelled with 6 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions for 94 yards and a touchdown, 6 passes defended, and forced 2 fumbles.
2017 Season (Junior):
During his junior year, Epps played in 13 games and continued to demonstrate his defensive prowess. He amassed 68 total tackles, including 42 solo tackles and 26 assisted tackles. He recorded 5 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions for 90 yards, defended 4 passes, and forced 1 fumble.
2018 Season (Senior):
In his final year at Wyoming as a senior, Epps participated in 12 games. He contributed 62 total tackles, comprising 41 solo tackles and 21 assisted tackles. He had 5.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, defended 8 passes, and forced 1 fumble.
Over the course of his college career at Wyoming, Epps accumulated an impressive total of 324 tackles in 50 games played. This included 214 solo tackles and 110 assisted tackles. He secured 9 interceptions for a total of 211 yards, defended 22 passes, and forced 4 fumbles. Epps also scored a defensive touchdown, showcasing his all-around capabilities on the field.
Pre Daft:
The scouts had plenty to say about Marcus, and not all of it was positive.
"He was a plus tester at his pro day and it is hard to ignore the steady stream of production, but he lacks size for the box and the makeup burst as a high safety so his road to the 53-man roster will be daunting." Draft profile from NFL.com
Strengths
Adequate ball production in each season
Picks up quarterback clues in coverage
Trusts his own eyes
Recognizes overlap opportunities in zone coverage
Change-of-direction testing was very strong
Rapid trigger to pounce on throws in front of him
Speed to drive off the hash and range over the top
Improved consistency as a tackler in 2018
Weaknesses
Undersized as an NFL safety
Extremely short arms limit ability to play the throw
Inconsistent footwork to match stems from high safety
Slow foot response to route breaks
Allowed too much pitch-and-catch in front of him from slot
Makeup burst is uninspiring
Will take the worst of it as a tackler on pro level
Draft Projection: Priority free agent
What do these “experts” know anyway??? They sure don’t include “Cowboy Tough” in their analysis.
NFL Career:
Drafted in round 6, pick 191 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
Marcus Epp has built a solid NFL career establishing himself as a talented and reliable player.
Minnesota Vikings (2019):
2019: Epps began with the Minnesota Vikings, playing 8 games but made only 1 tackle. He then transitioned to the Philadelphia Eagles the same year, appearing in 7 games and registering 5 tackles. The combined season total was 6 tackles.
Philadelphia Eagles (2019-2022):
2020: Epps saw 14 games, with 5 as a starter, he managed 2 interceptions and 47 tackles. His defensive contributions also included 4 pass deflections.
2021: Played all 16 games (3 as a starter), Epps recorded 1 interception and amassed 62 tackles. He also contributed with 5 pass deflections.
2022: This was arguably his most significant year. Epps started in all 17 games, indicating his importance to the Eagles' defense. He had 94 tackles and 6 pass deflections. Notably, Epps forced a fumble this season. Epps also played in Super Bowl LVII where he recorded 6 tackles in a hard-fought loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Las Vegas Raiders (2023-Current):
2023: The year 2023 saw Marcus Epp making a move to the Las Vegas Raiders. Expectations are high, and we are confident that he will further his already impressive NFL career.
Wyoming currently has 12 players in the NFL, (including 2 transfers). How does Wyoming rank against other schools in the Mountain West?
# of MWC Players on NFL Rosters by University:
1. San Diego State - 24 players
2. Boise State - 18 players
3. Fresno State - 16 players
4. Wyoming - 12 players
5. Utah State - 10 players
6. Colorado State - 8 players
7. San José State - 8 players
8. Hawai'i - 6 players
9. Nevada - 5 players
10. New Mexico - 4 players
11. UNLV - 3 players
12. Air Force - 2 players
*As of 8/5/23
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