#ReportCards: Epps Unsure of Emotions Heading into Home Finale
November 10, 2015 | Football
Epps will be one of 13 seniors honored at Senior Day festivities on Saturday versus Virginia.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The road for University of Louisville senior offensive tackle Aaron Epps certainly hasn't been smooth. There have been a lot of bumps along the way, but Epps has overcome adversity to make him one of the team's biggest leaders.
Epps and 12 other seniors will be honored before Louisville's game Saturday against Virginia. It will be the final home game for Epps, who has seen a lot during his time with the Cardinals.
"I've been through a lot," Epps said. "It's been a lot of fun here and I've enjoyed the time I've had with my teammates."
However, it all comes to a close on Saturday when Epps will walk out of the tunnel for the final time in a Cardinal uniform.
Epps doesn't know what his emotions will be on Saturday when he makes his final start at home versus the Cavaliers.
"It really hasn't hit me yet. I'm trying not to think about it because it's coming up so fast. Five years have really flown by very fast. I'm going to try and take it all in at once."
Recruited out of Tucker High, Epps came to the program as a defensive end, but would end up being moved to the offensive line during his third year in the program.
Injuries kept him out of the lineup early in his career. He was redshirted in 2011 and then suffered a season-ending injury that kept him out of the rotation.
In 2013, Epps still wasn't figuring into the offensive line, but was a contributor on special teams. However, Epps never got frustrated with his lack of playing time.
It all paid off for him last season when he cracked the starting lineup about half-way through the season and helped the Cardinals to a 9-4 record.
Heading into his final year, Epps was tabbed as one of the team's five captains, which was a tremendous honor for a player who spent most of his career as a reserve.
"It means a lot to me," Epps said. "Those guys still look up to me. When Kenny Thomas comes to the sideline he will come to me and ask me a question. With me knowing the game, I don't have a problem helping any player when they have a question."
A starter for the first three games of the season, Epps was replaced in the starting lineup, but it never stopped the Georgia native from being discouraged. Â
"It's not about me," Epps said. "It's about the team so the coach feel that those guys give the team a chance to win, then I'm all for it. I just want to win as bad as everyone else does."
Epps entered the season already earned  his degree in criminal justice, and he is just a month away from graduating with his master's degree. If he doesn't get an opportunity to fulfill his dreams of playing in the NFL, Epps will try his hand in dealing with white-collar crimes.
"It's very interesting to me," Epps said. "I'd like to be in the federal field, dealing with organized crime and Wall Street."
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Epps and 12 other seniors will be honored before Louisville's game Saturday against Virginia. It will be the final home game for Epps, who has seen a lot during his time with the Cardinals.
"I've been through a lot," Epps said. "It's been a lot of fun here and I've enjoyed the time I've had with my teammates."
However, it all comes to a close on Saturday when Epps will walk out of the tunnel for the final time in a Cardinal uniform.
Epps doesn't know what his emotions will be on Saturday when he makes his final start at home versus the Cavaliers.
"It really hasn't hit me yet. I'm trying not to think about it because it's coming up so fast. Five years have really flown by very fast. I'm going to try and take it all in at once."
Recruited out of Tucker High, Epps came to the program as a defensive end, but would end up being moved to the offensive line during his third year in the program.
Injuries kept him out of the lineup early in his career. He was redshirted in 2011 and then suffered a season-ending injury that kept him out of the rotation.
In 2013, Epps still wasn't figuring into the offensive line, but was a contributor on special teams. However, Epps never got frustrated with his lack of playing time.
It all paid off for him last season when he cracked the starting lineup about half-way through the season and helped the Cardinals to a 9-4 record.
Heading into his final year, Epps was tabbed as one of the team's five captains, which was a tremendous honor for a player who spent most of his career as a reserve.
"It means a lot to me," Epps said. "Those guys still look up to me. When Kenny Thomas comes to the sideline he will come to me and ask me a question. With me knowing the game, I don't have a problem helping any player when they have a question."
A starter for the first three games of the season, Epps was replaced in the starting lineup, but it never stopped the Georgia native from being discouraged. Â
"It's not about me," Epps said. "It's about the team so the coach feel that those guys give the team a chance to win, then I'm all for it. I just want to win as bad as everyone else does."
Epps entered the season already earned  his degree in criminal justice, and he is just a month away from graduating with his master's degree. If he doesn't get an opportunity to fulfill his dreams of playing in the NFL, Epps will try his hand in dealing with white-collar crimes.
"It's very interesting to me," Epps said. "I'd like to be in the federal field, dealing with organized crime and Wall Street."
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