sportsjabber.net

Some of you know of my love affair with the University of Miami, until now I haven’t had the chance to interview any current or former players. That all changed this afternoon when recently drafted tight end Dedrick Epps agreed to take a few questions from me.

Epps earned a starting job on a talented Miami team in 2008 and subsequently turned that into leverage to become the 12th rated tight end in the 2010 NFL draft.

He finished his career at ‘The U’ with 49 receptions for 634 yards and six touchdowns. He was a seventh round selection of the San Diego Chargers and gets to learn from one of the best tight ends in the league in Antonio Gates.

What’s it like playing in a program with a storied history like Miami’s? Does that increase the pressure? Or alleviate it?

Playin’ for the U is an honor. Greats have created a tradition that we all strive to maintain as a Hurricane. It adds a little pressure, but that’s what you go to the U for.

What was going through your head during the NFL draft?

The main thought I had during the draft was not getting picked. I saw a lot of Tight Ends go in the 5th-6th round and I thought I would eventually get the call.

You get to learn from one of the best tight ends in the game in Antonio Gates, are you looking forward to picking his brain?

I’m very excited to learn from Gates, I’ve watched him make great athletic catches and be a premier Tight End in the league, so I plan to learn as much as I can before the season starts.

Do you spend more time working on blocking or receiving?

I try to spend more time on blocking, I feel like its the weaker part of my game, but I still do some drills to polish catching.

What team did you root for growing up?

I was a Cowboys fan growing up, by the time I got to high school I wasn’t keeping up with football just the playoffs and the Super Bowl.

By Tom Jenkins

Writer/Blogger/Admin/Owner

http://forums.sportsjabber.net/sjforums/showthread.php?t=51430