BYU receiver Kody Epps runs a route throughout recreation in opposition to Utah State Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Provo, Utah. Epps has been operating roughshod on opponents to date in 2022. Rick Bowmer, Related Press
BYU’s Kody Epps runs onto the sector earlier than Cougars recreation in opposition to Arkansas in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Ben B. Braun, Deseret Information
A Sunday morning cellphone name to his previous highschool quarterback gave Kody Epps an opportunity to match battle scars from the day earlier than.
Alabama’s Bryce Younger, the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner and teammate of Epps at Mater Dei Excessive in Los Angeles, was recovering from a gut-wrenching 51-48 defeat at Tennessee on CBS, whereas Epps was on the mend after BYU’s loss to Arkansas on ESPN.
“I misplaced religion a number of instances. I assumed this is perhaps it. It was so tough. However by way of adversity is whenever you learn how sturdy you might be and you discover out if you're reduce for it.” — BYU receiver Kody Epps
“I informed him, I can’t imagine you get hit by these dudes week in and week out,” Epps mentioned after his first bout with SEC athletes. “He simply laughed.”
Epps caught 9 passes for a career-high 125 yards and a landing, however he paid a value for it. As he sat down for an interview for BYUtv’s “GameDay” broadcast earlier this week, his proper shoulder was wrapped, his finger was taped, his hip was black and blue and he was lacking the small bone within the ball of his left foot.
Regardless of all of it, Epps retains a smile as large as a soccer area and the humility of an previous soul thrice his age. His time without work the sector final yr modified his perspective and his method to the sport.
“I’m to the purpose the place I don’t wish to miss any soccer if I don’t need to,” he mentioned. “I’m simply gonna maintain driving it. I’m gonna maintain pushing. None of those nagging issues are going to maintain me out.”
The improper foot
Epps’ BYU profession began off on the improper foot — his left foot. After battling persistent soreness following the 2019 COVID-19 season, medical doctors eliminated the small bone within the ball of his foot and he needed to practice himself to get alongside with out it, together with coming to phrases with the likelihood that his enjoying days is perhaps over.
“I misplaced religion a number of instances. I assumed this is perhaps it. It was so tough,” Epps mentioned. “However by way of adversity is whenever you learn how sturdy you might be and you discover out if you're reduce for it. I used to be reduce for that adversity and it’s coming to fruition now for what I went by way of and the motivation that's constantly pushing by way of me.”
Epps spent final season on the sideline cheering for his teammates, resting his foot and dreaming of his eventual return — even when it meant being sixth on the depth chart.
“That yr sitting out has ready me for these moments that I’ve dreamt about,” he mentioned. “I’ve dreamed about making performs. I’ve dreamed about catching the ball on this area. I’ve dreamed about scoring touchdowns in entrance of our followers. Now I’m right here, so having needed to sit out retains me motivated.”
Electrical Epps
At 5-foot-11 and 185 kilos, Epps is constructed like an Indy Automotive, the place pace is the secret. Regardless of the place he catches the ball, his drive is to race to the top zone.
“I labored within the offseason on twitchy issues,” he mentioned. “As quickly as I catch the ball, as quickly as I put my first foot within the floor, it’s time to go. It’s time to get to the top zone.”
Epps has logged back-to-back video games with not less than 100 receiving yards — a BYU freshman document. He caught 4 passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns in opposition to Notre Dame and 9 passes for 125 yards and a landing in opposition to Arkansas. He has additionally caught not less than one landing in 5 consecutive video games and wishes 4 extra over the subsequent six video games to interrupt Ross Apo’s freshman document of 9.
“After I hit the sector I don’t care about anyone’s measurement, how large they're or what their stature is,” Epps mentioned. “I’m a canine and I’m simply as large as them after I hit that area regardless of the peak or all the opposite stuff.”
Bear vs. Cougar
Epps caught 93 passes from Younger for 1,735 yards and 28 touchdowns as a senior at Mater Dei Excessive. The USA At present first group All-American, Orange County Register Extensive Receiver of the 12 months and Max Preps first group All-American didn’t get the recruiting consideration he had hoped for, so he set his sights on enjoying for the California Bears.
“My uncle drove me all the best way up there (to Berkeley) hoping they might provide me and we left empty-handed,” Epps mentioned. “I used to be anticipating these guys to ship me again to L.A. with a suggestion I will be pleased with, and so they didn’t.”
Throughout the drive, Epps obtained a name from BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick, who had been prodded by former BYU quarterback John Beck, who's a enterprise affiliate of Taylor Kelly, an assistant coach at Mater Dei.
Roderick provided Epps a scholarship on the spot — or wherever they had been on the street between Berkeley and Los Angeles. “This was the second I had been ready for — someone to provide me a possibility on the time that I wanted it most,” he mentioned.
On the finish of the day, Epps was again house with a suggestion he may very well be pleased with — a suggestion to play soccer at BYU; by way of seven video games in 2022, the place accidents have constantly shuffled the Cougars receiving corps, Epps has been a continuing and welcome shock.
The enterprise main is a believer.
“It’s nearly believing in myself and having belief in God,” he mentioned. “Each time I hit the sector I pray and ask him for the braveness and enthusiasm to come back out and play with depth, to simply have enjoyable, let free and make some performs. I really like scoring touchdowns, getting factors on the board and making the followers go loopy!”
Dave McCann is a contributor to the Deseret Information and is the studio host for “BYU Sports activities Nation Recreation Day,” “The Submit Recreation Present,” “After Additional Overview” and play-by-play announcer for BYUtv. He's additionally co-host of “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com.
BYU’s Kody Epps runs onto the sector earlier than Cougars recreation in opposition to Arkansas in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022.
Ben B. Braun, Deseret Information