Marcus Epps (soccer) explained

Marcus Epps
Fullname:Roderick Marcus Epps
Birth Date:16 January 1995
Birth Place:Jackson, Mississippi, United States
Height:1.82m (05.97feet)
Position:Winger
Currentclub:Hartford Athletic
Clubnumber:7
Youthyears1:2011–2012
Youthclubs1:Chicago Fire
Collegeyears1:2013–2016
Collegecaps1:75
Collegegoals1:8
Years1:2014–2015
Clubs1:Chicago Fire U-23
Caps1:19
Goals1:3
Years2:2017–2018
Clubs2:Philadelphia Union
Caps2:32
Goals2:3
Years3:2017–2018
Clubs3:Bethlehem Steel (loan)
Caps3:25
Goals3:3
Years4:2019
Clubs4:New York Red Bulls
Caps4:3
Goals4:0
Years5:2019
Clubs5:New York Red Bulls II (loan)
Caps5:19
Goals5:2
Years6:2019
Clubs6:Memphis 901 (loan)
Caps6:15
Goals6:3
Years7:2020
Clubs7:Portland Timbers 2
Caps7:13
Goals7:4
Years8:2021
Clubs8:San Antonio FC
Caps8:32
Goals8:6
Years9:2022
Clubs9:Phoenix Rising
Caps9:18
Goals9:2
Years10:2022–2023
Clubs10:FC Tulsa
Caps10:43
Goals10:11
Years11:2024–
Clubs11:Hartford Athletic
Caps11:0
Goals11:0
Club-Update:December 19, 2023

Roderick Marcus Epps (born January 16, 1995) is an American soccer player who plays as a winger for Hartford Athletic in the USL Championship.

Career

Youth and college

Epps played four years of college soccer at the University of South Florida between 2013 and 2016, making 75 appearances and scoring 8 goals.[1]

While at college, Epps also appeared for Premier Development League side Chicago Fire U-23 in 2014 and 2015.[2]

Professional

Philadelphia Union

On January 13, 2017, Epps was selected 25th overall in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft by Philadelphia Union.[3] He signed with the club on February 6, 2017.[4] Epps made his professional debut on April 1, 2017, while on loan with the Union's United Soccer League affiliate Bethlehem Steel, playing 90 minutes in a 3–2 loss to Rochester Rhinos.[5] On May 27, 2017, Epps made his MLS debut, appearing as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 loss to Real Salt Lake.[6] Epps scored his first goal as a professional on June 14, 2017, helping Philadelphia to a 3–1 victory over Harrisburg City Islanders in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.[7] On July 26, 2017, he scored his first league goal in a 3–0 victory over Columbus Crew.[8]

New York Red Bulls

On December 12, 2018, Epps was selected by New York Red Bulls as the first pick in the MLS Waiver Draft.[9] New York traded a second-round pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft to San Jose Earthquakes in exchange for the first pick in the Waiver Draft.[10] On March 2, 2019, Epps made his debut with the club, appearing as a starter in a 1–1 draw with Columbus Crew on the opening day of the season.[11]

During the 2019 season Epps was sent on loan to New York Red Bulls II and on March 9, 2019, in his first match with the side, scored one goal and assisted on another in a 3–1 victory over Swope Park Rangers.[12]

On August 2, 2019, Epps was loaned to USL Championship side Memphis 901 FC.[13]

Portland Timbers 2

Following his release from New York at the end of the 2019 season,[14] Epps joined USL Championship side Portland Timbers 2.[15]

San Antonio FC

Epps signed with USL Championship side San Antonio FC on January 22, 2021.[16] Epps led San Antonio in games started, games played, and minutes played in a season that saw SAFC reach the Western Conference Finals.

Phoenix Rising FC

In December 2021, Epps signed a multi-year contract with Phoenix Rising FC.[17]

FC Tulsa

On July 27, 2022, Epps was traded to FC Tulsa in exchange for forward JJ Williams.[18] He left Tulsa at the end of their 2023 season.[19]

Hartford Athletic

On December 19, 2023, Hartford Athletic announced Marcus Epps as a signing for the 2024 USL Championship Season.[20]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeaguePlayoffsUS Open CupCONCACAFTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Bethlehem Steel2017131000000131
2018122000000122
Total253000000253
Philadelphia Union2017192002100213
2018131003100162
Total323005200375
New York Red Bulls20193000000030
New York Red Bulls II2019141000000141
Career total747005200799

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Marcus Epps - Men's Soccer. USF Athletics. December 12, 2018.
  2. Web site: PDL Alum Epps Signs MLS Deal with Union. February 6, 2017. uslleaguetwo.com. December 12, 2018.
  3. Web site: Union trade up for MF Marcus Epps, snag RB Aaron Jones in MLS SuperDraft. January 13, 2017. NBC Sports Philadelphia. December 12, 2018.
  4. Web site: Philadelphia Union Sign 25th Overall Pick Marcus Epps. February 6, 2017.
  5. Web site: BETHLEHEM STEEL FC BATTLES BACK BEFORE FALLING LATE TO ROCHESTER RHINOS IN OPENER. April 1, 2017. bethlehemsteelfc.com. December 12, 2018.
  6. Web site: Marcus Epps makes MLS debut at Real Salt Lake. Jacob. Born. May 31, 2017. philadelphiaunion.com. December 12, 2018.
  7. Web site: Epps scores first professional goal, Union advances in US Open Cup. Ashton. Lebor. June 14, 2017. philadelphiaunion.com. December 12, 2018.
  8. Web site: Marcus Epps gets a shot, takes a bunch of others, caps it with 1st MLS goal. Dave. Zeitlin. July 27, 2017. mlssoccer.com. December 12, 2018.
  9. Web site: Marco Ureña among four players selected in 2018 Waiver Draft. December 12, 2018.
  10. Web site: New York Red Bulls Move Up in Waiver Draft, Select Marcus Epps | New York Red Bulls. January 25, 2021. May 7, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190507211005/https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/post/2018/12/12/new-york-red-bulls-move-waiver-draft-select-marcus-epps. dead.
  11. Web site: New York Red Bulls Grab Point in Columbus. March 2, 2019.
  12. Web site: NYRB II Defeat Swope Park Rangers in Home Opener. newyorkredbulls.com. New York Red Bulls. March 9, 2019. March 9, 2019.
  13. Web site: Memphis Adds Epps on Loan from Red Bulls. uslchampionship.com. USL Championship. August 2, 2019. March 31, 2020.
  14. Web site: New York Red Bulls Announce End of Year Roster Decisions. newyorkredbulls.com. New York Red Bulls. November 21, 2019. March 31, 2020.
  15. Web site: T2 Announce Four Player Signings Ahead of 2020 USL Championship Season. timbers2.com. Portland Timbers 2. January 15, 2020. March 31, 2020.
  16. Web site: SAN ANTONIO FC SIGNS MIDFIELDER MARCUS EPPS. San Antonio FC. Communications. January 22, 2021. San Antonio FC. January 25, 2021.
  17. Web site: PHOENIX RISING FC SIGNS MIDFIELDER MARCUS EPPS TO A MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT . PHXRisingFC.com . 8 December 2021.
  18. News: FC Tulsa Adds Marcus Epps via Trade From Phoenix Rising FC. fctulsa.com/. July 27, 2022. July 27, 2022.
  19. Web site: FC Tulsa announces four departures from 2023 squad. NICHOLAS MURRAY-. nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com. November 29, 2023. USL Championship.
  20. News: Hartford Athletic Add Marcus Epps to Attack. hartfordathletic.com/. December 19, 2023. December 19, 2023.