Don't be confused by the PA announcer at Saturday's Baylor-Texas A&M game when he keeps broadcasting that Epperson is back to punt -- for both teams.
The brothers Derek and Ryan Epperson are the starting punters for Baylor and A&M, respectively, and will play against each other for the first time in a high school or college game when the Bears and Aggies face off at Kyle Field.
Derek, a junior, has already made a name for himself after earning All-Big 12 honors last season. His brother Ryan, a freshman, took over the punting duties for the Aggies four games ago.
Ryan discusses how his brother has been a mentor, how he chose A&M over Baylor and other schools, what it was like finally getting into a game for the Aggies, how he would grade his performance so far and how his parents will treat this weekend's game.
Q: Did you think of following your brother to Baylor or going to another school?
A: The recruiting process for me started kind of late, but I saw what my brother could do, and I felt that I was just the same as him in high school if not better, so I looked at some pretty major schools. Baylor was interested in me as well, but I decided that I kind of wanted to do my own thing, so when A&M started recruiting me, it was my top thing because I wanted to see what I could do on my own and not be under him all the time. A&M was the perfect choice because going through high school, all I wanted to do was [major in] engineering in college.
Q: Were you Derek's understudy at Keller High School?
A: He was two years older than me, so my freshman and sophomore year I just played JV. Once he graduated, I punted my junior and senior year [on varsity]. It wasn't that bad. It was like being behind anybody else; it was just he was my brother.
Q: Was your brother one of the reasons you became a punter?
A: I was originally just a kicker my freshmen and sophomore year. That was my main thing. I just kicked extra points and field goals. Once I saw he made the transition to punter and how good he was at it, I started to practice more and more with him to see what I could do, and I realized I was better at punting than kicking. My junior year there was a senior kicker [Matt Hogan] who is [now] at the University of Houston, so I knew the only way I was going to get to play was if I punted. [Derek] started teaching me at first, then I started getting lessons and I just started getting better and better. I just look up to him. He gave me tips here and there, so it really all just started with him.
Q: Has Derek helped you since arriving at A&M?
A: During my first fall camp, it was the first time I had faced some strict competition with Ken Wood, and the pressure was really getting to me. I had good days and bad days. I would call [Derek] to ask him how he handled it his first year at Baylor, his thought process on it and how I could handle it better, and that really helped a lot. It was more encouragement. He helped me focus on relaxing.
Q: When you won the job in the middle of the season, was he the first person you called?
A: I actually texted him because I didn't know what he was up to. He called me right back then, and I told him I just got out of the meeting and that I would be starting this weekend. He said congrats, was real positive, but he told me not to let it get to my head, and that I had to focus in on this game. He said you have to handle your nerves, that your first punt obviously will be extremely nerve-racking, so you have to tone it down and relax out there. Basically, he didn't let it get to my head.
Q: How are your parents going to deal with a son on opposing teams?
A: They are really excited to see us both at the same place at the same time. They'll be wearing split jerseys. They just recently got them made, I think. They planned [out their year] during the summer whenever the schedules were released, what games they could make and what games they couldn't. It's mainly home games [they go to], and if both of us are at home, then my mom may come to mine and my dad to my brother's. They have single jerseys for that.
My aunt and uncle from Virginia are coming. My mom is from Scotland, so my aunt and uncle from Scotland are coming to the game. I've been trying to get extra tickets, and my brother got extra tickets. They will probably end up switching around [seats] during the game, going to the A&M section probably because it's better seats than the Baylor section over in the corner.
Q: In your only chance to kick at Kyle Field so far, A&M never had to punt. What was going through your mind on the sidelines?
A: That was kind of funny because I didn't expect that at all. In high school, there wasn't a game that I never punted in, so I figured what are the odds I would never punt in a college game? During the Iowa State game, I'd warm up and every time it was third down we would convert, and I'm thinking this is really happening. I didn't want to sit there and say am I going to punt this game because I didn't want to jinx it or anything. I was glad our offense was doing amazing.
Q: How would you grade your first four games as the starter?
A: I would say I've done about average. I expect a lot more of myself. I really started getting comfortable in the Oklahoma game being out there a lot. In the previous two games, I wouldn't exactly say I was comfortable out there on the field yet. It started to sink in with the OU game, and it really helped me with my nerves. I wouldn't say I've done a great job so far regardless of the punts that I've pinned [inside the 20], but it's just my average. I expect to be better in future games.
-- Richard Croome
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