Big, strong tight end who has good speed … Earned the starting job in 2008 and was team’s third-leading receiver … Had a career-best 101 receiving yards in the 2008 regular season finale against NC State.
2008 (JUNIOR): Started 10 of 12 games for the Hurricanes … Third on the team in receiving yards (304) and fourth in receptions (22) … Had two touchdown receptions on the season … Set a career-high with four receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown at Georgia Tech … Matched career-high with four receptions and a career-best 101 yards at NC State, including a career-long 69-yard TD that was also Miami’s longest play from scrimmage … Added three receptions for 48 yards in win at Texas A&M and had another three catches against UCF … Became the first player with over 100 yards receiving in a game since Darnell Jenkins at Florida State (10/27/07) … Also was the first tight end with 100 receiving yards since Greg Olsen had 132 yards on eight receptions against Florida State in 2005.
2007 (SOPHOMORE): Played in 10 games and made eight receptions for 83 yards, including the game-winning touchdown catch at FSU … Moved around a lot, playing tight end, H-back and fullback … Made two receptions for 20 yards – his first two catches at UM – against Texas A&M … Caught the game-winning score on a 13-yard pass from Kirby Freeman with 1:15 left against Florida State.
2006 (FRESHMAN): Played in six games, making one start … Also played on special teams … Did not play in the season’s first six games, then saw action in six of the last seven games … Played in his first game at Duke, starting in a two-tight end formation … Saw action in the final five games, mostly on special teams and at tight end in the MPC Computers Bowl vs. Nevada.
HIGH SCHOOL: As a senior in 2005, caught 38 passes for more than 700 yards and eight touchdowns … Also had four two-point conversions … As a junior in 2004, caught 15 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns … On defense as an outside linebacker, made 75 tackles and three interceptions (one returned for a 75-yard touchdown) … Rated the No. 12 tight end by Rivals.com, Scout.com and Collegefootballnews.com … Ranked the No. 12 player in the state of Virginia by the Richmond Times … Member of the PrepStar 200 and ranked as the No. 12 tight end … Coached by Richard McFee.
DEDRICK EPPS’ CAREER STATISTICS
| RECEIVING | ||||||
| Year | GP/GS | No. | Yards | Avg. | TD | LG |
| 2006 | 6/0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 10/0 | 8 | 83 | 10.4 | 1 | 15 |
| 2008 | 12/10 | 22 | 304 | 13.8 | 2 | 69 |
| Totals | 28/11 | 30 | 387 | 12.9 | 3 | 69 |
DEDRICK EPPS’ CAREER HIGHS
Receptions: 4, twice (at Georgia Tech 2008, at NC State 2008)
Receiving Yards: 101 (at NC State 2008)
Receiving Touchdowns: 1, three times (at Florida State 2007, at Georgia Tech 2008, at NC State 2008)
Long Reception: 69 (at NC State 2008)