Evan Cochran from Kent, Wash., is a management major as well as a junior captain on RPI’s football team. Cochran began his football career at the age of eight when his family was living in Hawaii. The following summer his father, a commander in the Navy, was transferred to the ROTC unit at the University of Washington, and the family settled down in the nearby city of Kent.
"When we moved to Washington I continued playing there all the way through college," he said. Before coming to RPI, Cochran played two years of football at Western Washington University.
Cochran chose to return to school when his younger brother convinced him to attend RPI with him. "My brother and I wanted to play football together," he said. Cochran came with his brother because he knew he still had a lot of football play left in him, and after he talked with the coach he knew that he would have a place on the team.
Although last year was Cochran’s first year at RPI, he performed well after taking a two-year break from football. Last year he recorded 20 catches for 419 yards and five touchdowns in nine games. This year, after five games, Cochran already has 30 catches for 447 yards and five touchdowns. He attributes the increase in stats to the fact that the team is throwing the ball more.
According to Cochran, the team has played very well so far. He also went on to say that the team has been able to win because it has recognized and accomplished its goals. Cochran believes the biggest reason for such a huge turnaround, when comparing this year’s team to last year’s team, is because that this team is playing together. "There aren’t any individuals on this team, there aren’t any major stars, and everyone plays as a team," he said. He also pointed out another reason for the turnaround is that the offense isn’t turning the ball over as much and the defense is forcing turnovers by the other teams.
Outside of football Cochran is involved in many things. He spends a lot of his time lifting weights, bowling in a league, and golfing with many of his teammates.
In the summers, Cochran returns home to Kent where he enjoys wakeboarding, working in construction, and getting in shape for the next season. In the winter, he snowboards, but admits that he prefers Northwestern mountains to what the Northeast has to offer. Outside of these activities, Cochran enjoys spending time with his teammates and makes sure that he keeps up with his classes.
Cochran described his team as being like family. Players spend a lot of time together outside of football, and some of the players even get together for Friday night bowling before home games.
While playing football, Cochran plays with a lot of intensity. "I play like it’s a fight. You can’t go in there timid or worried about something that is hurting you," he said. He explains that he uses this mindset in every game to keep his level of performance high.
After graduating from RPI, Cochran has thoughts of going on to a MBA, but he hasn’t decided where to go. He also has plans to stay active and coach football at some level.
