Former USC and Texas tight end Malcolm Epps, who appeared last year on the John Mackey Award watch list, decided to transfer to Pittsburgh after not getting much playing time last season in L.A as a Trojan.
Epps (6-foot-6, 250 pounds) has 37 receptions for 483 yards and seven touchdowns through five seasons, the past two at USC.
He wasn’t featured in the USC passing game last season but recorded a touchdown catch and interception in the end zone against Fresno State when he was inserted to defend a Hail Mary.
As a redshirt freshman at Texas in 2019, he caught 20 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns.
Epps will most likely be No. 2 or No. 3 on the depth chart behind Gavin Bartholomhew and Karter Johnson, but he fits this pro-style Pitt offense more than he fit a given offensive system in his previous stops. The Panthers will get great use out of the tight end position.
Epps’ size and athleticism give Pitt a weapon the program hasn’t had in a long time. He is someone a quarterback can throw a jump ball to in one-on-one coverage. He should be a trusted target for former Boston College and Notre Dame quarterback Phil Jurkovec, who will start at quarterback for Pitt. Be on the lookout for Epps to have an impactful year in the ACC.
TOUCHDOWN MALCOLM EPPS❕✌🏼#USC Leads ASU 21-10 🏈
🎥 @On3USC #FightOn pic.twitter.com/IYAGOd3pP3
— Scott Schrader (@Scott_Schrader) October 2, 2022
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