New Las Vegas Raiders S Marcus Epps
HENDERSON, Nev.--The Las Vegas Raiders have made a run at acquiring new talent for the team and accumulating picks in the upcoming NFL Draft.
New safety Marcus Epps discussed being a member of the Silver and Black, and you can watch his entire press conference below and read the transcript:
Safety Marcus Epps
Q: Will you talk about the opportunity to be a Raider? Did you expect to stay and really what it means to be here, please?
Epps: “Going into it, I wasn't really sure what was going to happen. But the Raiders, they made the biggest push for me and that meant a lot to me. Really excited to be here and really excited to play for this storied franchise. I just can't wait to get to work with the guys.”
Q: Last season was your first time going into that full time starting role. What did you learn just from taking on that responsibility of playing more and just throughout the season?
Epps: “Learned a lot about consistency, learned a lot about what it takes the day in and day out grind. You know, what it takes to take care of your body throughout the season. So, it's definitely a great learning experience for me and some things that I can take and continue to use to get better going forward.”
Q: What was the vision that the staff kind of told you about, ‘Hey, this is how we want you to play in this defense that we got?
Epps: “I think we're still kind of talking through those things, but the biggest thing for me was they really wanted me here. They really believe in me as a player, as a person, and that went a long way for me. So that was the biggest reason why I chose here.”
Q: Going to high school in Huntington Beach, I would imagine there's a lot of Raider fans there. Have you heard from any family and friends that are Raider fans that are pretty happy you are going to be in the Silver and Black?
Epps: “Yeah, definitely. Got some uncles that are Raider fans. My uncle actually lives here in Vegas. So, a lot of people back home around the L.A. area are Raider fans, so I'm really excited for this opportunity.”
Q: You’ve been in the playoffs three out of four seasons in the league so far. What have you learned about what it takes for a team to break through and make it to the playoffs on a consistent basis?
Epps: “I think I learned the most this year, and the biggest thing I took away from that was just like I said before the day in and day out grind. It’s a long season, obviously, and you can't look too far ahead. You got to be able to have tunnel vision and stay focused on the grind each and every day. You know, you don't want to look too far ahead. So, my mind's not even there yet. I'm just thankful to be here, happy to be here, and I'm looking towards what I can do with my off-season training to improve myself as a player going into this year.”
Q: You’re coming from a pretty experienced secondary to a kind of young secondary here with the Raiders. Is leadership something that you're wired through and accept that kind of responsibility?
Epps: “Yeah, definitely. I was a three-year captain in college and in my time in the league, I've been able to learn from some great leaders, having been under, when I was with the Vikings, Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris, and then with the Eagles, Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod and then [Darius] Slay. So, I've learned from a lot of great teammates, great leaders in the DB rooms that I've been in. So, I learned a lot from them and I'm excited to take on a little bit more of that here.”
Q: It seems like you've always given yourself challenges from being a walk on at Wyoming to building your own gym. I read an article that said you believe your football career is on the same trajectory as your entrepreneur life. What is that like for you right now?
Epps: “You know, honestly, for me, it's just about never getting complacent. That's the biggest thing. Always looking for ways to improve, always looking to get better, always looking to put the work in, put the extra work in that it takes to be great. Just always having that chip on your shoulder, like you said, I've always been an underdog, always been doubted, and it’s never stopped me. I've always believed in myself, so that's what I'm going to continue to do.”
Q: A Mountain West guy from Wyoming, you’ve played here against UNLV. What was your sense of Las Vegas as a football town? Not only then as a college town, but now having played here with the Eagles when they played the Raiders, in terms of Vegas as a football town?
Epps: “I mean, the atmosphere was electric when I came in 2021 with the Eagles when we played here. So, that's something that I'm really excited about because I have vivid memories of that atmosphere in Allegiant Stadium. So, I'm really looking forward to that first time being able to put that uniform on and go out there in front of Raider Nation.”
Q: There are a few teams like the Raiders that have that kind of mystique about them in the NFL. When you signed with the Raiders, what are a few of your thoughts if you have any childhood memories or thoughts of Raiders or anything like that?
Epps: “I mean, it's just a storied franchise. I mean, legendary franchise, legendary organization, and that uniform is just a classic look. It's one of those franchises that growing up as a kid, if I thought about as a kid, like, ‘Hey, you're going to play for the Raiders,’ it's like a surreal moment. So, definitely grateful to be here.”
Q: You actually have a college teammate here already in Tyler Hall. How cool is it going to be to link back up with him in the secondary?
Epps: “It's awesome. I mean, that's my guy. He's like a brother to me. We train together in the offseason a lot. So, I'm really, really excited for him and you know what he did with his opportunity last year, and I can't wait to get back there with him again and get to work.”
Q: How big of a role was it that L A is so close to Vegas for you to come out here?
Epps: “It was a big role. I mean, I grew up in L.A., so, it's very, very convenient. Very nice for me to be back out here on the west and be close to family again.”
Q: You played against Jimmy Garoppolo, as an opponent, what were your takeaways from him and now that he’s going to be your teammate?
Epps: “He's a winner. You know, that's the thing even watching him, look at his career, he's been a winner.
"He knows what it takes to win, he knows what it takes to play winning football. So, I'm really excited to have him on the team, really excited to be his teammate.”
The NFL Draft will occur at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo., from Thursday, April 27 to Saturday, April 29. ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network will broadcast all seven rounds.
The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period began at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.
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