Cameron Epps Provides Spark on Cowboy Defense Against Kansas State
Oklahoma State needed Cameron Epps to step up in a big way, and he has done in the last two games for Bryan Nardo and the Cowboy defense.
In the Iowa State game, Epps replaced the injured Lyric Rawls and was efficient, recording 10 tackles against the Cyclones, including six of them being solo.
While others left during the bye week, Epps stayed in Stillwater, working on his craft and figuring out what he could do better from the Iowa State game.
“Really just cleaning up my technique from last week,” Epps said. “I had some mistakes early on in the Iowa State game. Really just picking up from where I left off last game.”
He did just that against Kansas State.
In Oklahoma State’s Friday night win over the Wildcats, Epps was electric, recording two interceptions on the night, including a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter, providing the Cowboys some momentum for the rest of the game.
Epps did more than just intercept a couple of passes against the Wildcats. He finished with five tackles and two pass breakups, providing a strong presence in the Oklahoma State secondary.
“The defense played really well,” Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy said on Friday. “We forced them into some tough situations, and we were able to capitalize. When they threw us the ball, we caught it on the defensive side.”
Jason Taylor II was the last Cowboy defender to record a two-interception game, but he was a seasoned veteran. Epps did this in just his second start in an OSU uniform.
Epps is also the first freshman to record two interceptions in a game since Shaun Lewis did it in 2010 against Oklahoma.
With Rawls' season-ending injury and Trey Rucker’s week-to-week availability questions, the OSU secondary room is limited. Epps will have to continue to be a force in the secondary to give OSU a chance on defense.
“When guys go down like Lyrik, somebody’s gotta step up and play,” Gundy said on Monday. “He (Epps) is playing good. He’s young but competing, he tackled and should get better each game. Got athleticism and seems to be adjusting well and could get to play a lot.”
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