Saturday, December 10
10:00 am MT
Montana State University
13
at
49
at SAM HOUSTON STATE
The catch that made Elvis famous
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Akpla Launches Big Week with Amazing Catch
12/13/2011 8:37:00 AM | Football
Saturday's catch continues to draw attention to MSU's Akpla
Elvis Akpla knew while he was making it that his astounding grab against Sam Houston State on Saturday was, in his words, “a good catch.”
But he didn't know it would go viral.
“It's amazing,” Akpla said Monday of the attention that's come his way since the one-handed grab that was re-tweeted thousands of times Saturday and Sunday and which has many writers and organizations calling it the catch of the year in all of college football. “Technology these days gets things out there, and since there weren't any other games going on (Saturday morning) a lot of people watched it live.”
The seven day period that began with his sensational catch will end on Friday with an even more significant event. “I graduate on Friday, so it's a busy week,” he said of MSU's final exam period. A cellular biology and neuroscience major with designs on medical school eventually, Akpla said his semester was dominated by a Genes of Cancer class. “It's a hard class,” he said with a laugh.
Much of Akpla's weekend was spent reacting to the reaction to the catch, but he also spent a busy day preparing for the next phase of his life. “I've spent a lot of time (Monday) talking to people about the NFL,” he said, a list which includes trainers that could help him prepare physically for his professional career and, now that his college playing days are over, potential agents.
While he has made no major decisions in those areas – “I have to get through school first,” he said – one thing is certain: he leaves Montana State with more receiving yards than any other player, yet that is not even close to the top of the list of topics covered when his name comes up in conversation.
“He's a better person than a football player,” says Bobcat head coach Rob Ash, “and he's a great football player.”
“Wow, he is a great blocker,” says quarterback DeNarius McGhee, who threw most of the passes that Akpla caught in the last three years.
“Elvis' dedication and hard work produced tremendous results,” said MSU assistant Brian Wright, who coordinated the Big Sky's top offense. “He was our go-to guy all year.”
“It's hard to find a nicer athlete, and Elvis brings a lot more to the table than physical talent,” says MSU receivers coach Brian Von Bergen. “He is an intellectual with tremendous drive.”
Akpla will juggle studying for medical school entrance exams with his shot at professional football for the next several months, at least. He enters the professional arena armed with plenty of attributes.
“I've got the (game action) tape,” he says in a typically analytical approach, “I have decent size, if there are any questions they are about what my speed really is. I'll work on that, and if I can run a good time I think I'll have a good chance” of getting drafted, he said.
Saturday's catch will undoubtedly lead off that highlight tape. “I was having a hard time getting my left hand on the ball,” Akpla said of the one-handed catch that began with him reaching far behind a Sam Houston State defender. “You can see that on the video. I caught it against my body, but I knew the ball was heading for the ground so I just kept my (right) hand under it and kept it from touching.”
A transfer from the University of Oregon, Akpla finishes his career with more yards than any other Bobcat, 2,207, and the second-most touchdown catches in a game (18) and season (11, this year). His 16.6 yards per catch average, based on available data, is fourth-best in Big Sky history.
As his college career ends, Akpla's status as arguably the best receiver in MSU history is not on his mind.
“I loved my time here,” he said. “I love my teammates.”
But he didn't know it would go viral.
“It's amazing,” Akpla said Monday of the attention that's come his way since the one-handed grab that was re-tweeted thousands of times Saturday and Sunday and which has many writers and organizations calling it the catch of the year in all of college football. “Technology these days gets things out there, and since there weren't any other games going on (Saturday morning) a lot of people watched it live.”
The seven day period that began with his sensational catch will end on Friday with an even more significant event. “I graduate on Friday, so it's a busy week,” he said of MSU's final exam period. A cellular biology and neuroscience major with designs on medical school eventually, Akpla said his semester was dominated by a Genes of Cancer class. “It's a hard class,” he said with a laugh.
Much of Akpla's weekend was spent reacting to the reaction to the catch, but he also spent a busy day preparing for the next phase of his life. “I've spent a lot of time (Monday) talking to people about the NFL,” he said, a list which includes trainers that could help him prepare physically for his professional career and, now that his college playing days are over, potential agents.
While he has made no major decisions in those areas – “I have to get through school first,” he said – one thing is certain: he leaves Montana State with more receiving yards than any other player, yet that is not even close to the top of the list of topics covered when his name comes up in conversation.
“He's a better person than a football player,” says Bobcat head coach Rob Ash, “and he's a great football player.”
“Wow, he is a great blocker,” says quarterback DeNarius McGhee, who threw most of the passes that Akpla caught in the last three years.
“Elvis' dedication and hard work produced tremendous results,” said MSU assistant Brian Wright, who coordinated the Big Sky's top offense. “He was our go-to guy all year.”
“It's hard to find a nicer athlete, and Elvis brings a lot more to the table than physical talent,” says MSU receivers coach Brian Von Bergen. “He is an intellectual with tremendous drive.”
Akpla will juggle studying for medical school entrance exams with his shot at professional football for the next several months, at least. He enters the professional arena armed with plenty of attributes.
“I've got the (game action) tape,” he says in a typically analytical approach, “I have decent size, if there are any questions they are about what my speed really is. I'll work on that, and if I can run a good time I think I'll have a good chance” of getting drafted, he said.
Saturday's catch will undoubtedly lead off that highlight tape. “I was having a hard time getting my left hand on the ball,” Akpla said of the one-handed catch that began with him reaching far behind a Sam Houston State defender. “You can see that on the video. I caught it against my body, but I knew the ball was heading for the ground so I just kept my (right) hand under it and kept it from touching.”
A transfer from the University of Oregon, Akpla finishes his career with more yards than any other Bobcat, 2,207, and the second-most touchdown catches in a game (18) and season (11, this year). His 16.6 yards per catch average, based on available data, is fourth-best in Big Sky history.
As his college career ends, Akpla's status as arguably the best receiver in MSU history is not on his mind.
“I loved my time here,” he said. “I love my teammates.”
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