Familia: KC Concepcion embraces Boricua, Latino love
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José de Jesus Ortiz, Founder & Editor in Chief
- October 17, 2025
Texas A&M star makes Puerto Rican grandma, great-grandma proud
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – As Texas A&M’s team buses rolled in front of Kyle Field last Saturday, Nancy Cordero spotted her grandson KC Concepcion right away through the bus’ tinted windows.
“He’s on the first (bus). The first one,” Cordero said as she pointed with her left hand, held her smart phone high with her right hand and jogged behind the crowd of fans and families waiting to greet the No. 4 Aggies before their game against Florida.
Cordero jogged behind Kevin Concepcion Sr., as her 83-year-old mother Loyda Gonzalez tried to keep up a few feet behind her. Once they settled in about 15 feet to the right of the bus, Cordero and Concepcion Sr. tracked their smartphones toward the bus in anticipation of KC Concepcion’s exit while the crowd of friends and family yelled and applauded while the football team got off the bus.
KC Concepcion, one of the best wide receivers in the country, heard his grandma almost immediately. He made eye contact with his dad, smiled and then nodded his head slowly back and forth, as if to a musical beat, before summoning his family toward him as the crowd parted so they could reach him.
Proud abuela
Wearing a white T-shirt with “Gig ‘Em” and a Texas A&M logo on the front, Cordero greeted her first grandson with a tight hug and a kiss. As they embraced, she kissed him on his right cheek a few times before she was overcome with tears of pride and joy.
Gonzalez followed in a colorful blouse with a pattern of flowers in pastel colors. She hugged KC Concepcion while her daughter wiped away her tears a few inches away. Kevin Concepcion Sr., who looked as though he could double for a powerful, young safety on his son’s team, was in a custom gray T-shirt that made it clear who he followed.
The back of Kevin Sr.’s T-shirt read, “KCTHEKID” over “CONCEPCION” and KC’s No. 7. The A&M logo was on the bottom left. A silhouette of the state of Texas was on the right of the shirt with “Aggies” in the middle of the state.
Gonzalez, a native of Barcelonita, Puerto Rico, prefers to give interviews in Spanish. But she definitely speaks English.
“He’s my son. My son,” Gonzalez told a fan who was chanting, “Let’s go, Concepcion. Let’s go, Concepcion. He’s good.” She meant to say great-grandson, but her point got across.
First visit to Texas
Gonzalez had never been in the state of Texas until she visited to watch her great-grandson play against Florida last Saturday. She flew in from New York to join her daughter and grandson Kevin, KC’s dad. Cordero was 16 years old when she had Kevin Concepcion Sr., so Gonzalez essentially raised Concepcion Sr. in her home.
“Very happy to have my grandson in this position,” KC Concepcion’s great-grandmother said in Spanish.
They all appreciate the love Aggies have shown KC Concepcion since he transferred from NC State in the spring. KC Concepcion is one of the top offensive players on a balanced offense that has helped the Aggies start the season 6-0.
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The 5-foot-11, 190-pound junior is fourth in the SEC in receiving yardage as the Aggies prepare to play at Arkansas on Saturday afternoon. He has made 28 catches for 447 yards and five touchdowns. KC also has returned 11 punts for 177 yards and a touchdown on an electric 80-yard return.
Indiana’s Heisman Trophy-contending quarterback Fernando Mendoza, Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and Concepcion are arguably the top three Latinos in college football this season. Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar and Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia are in the conversation for that honor as well.
Boricua excellence
Concepcion and his family are proud Boricuas. Gonzalez moved to New York from Puerto Rico. Kevin eventually settled in Rochester, N.Y., where KC was born. The family then moved to Charlotte, N.C. when KC was 3 years old.
Two years later, KC Concepcion began excelling in football.
“To be honest with you, man, I always said it to my son ever since the age of 5 years old when I introduced him to the game of football, the first time I’ve ever seen him on the football field I knew he was special compared to a lot of the kids,” Kevin Concepcion Sr. said. “Throughout his life I always motivated him and pushed him not only through his athletic and talent ability but to work hard on and off the field and to chase your dreams and aspirations.
“Anything in life that’s worth it, you got to really work toward it. He’s always worked harder than most kids. He’s always chased his dream.”
KC’s immediate family is enjoying his ascent to the top of college football. The trip to Kyle Field filled KC Concepcion’s family with pride.
“It’s a great experience, especially knowing that this was a dream of his,” Cordero said of her grandson. “He’s just here to make a name for himself and show the world and everybody that’s following him what he has to offer when he comes to this field to play.
“This is a very special occasion because I would have never thought my first grandchild would have made it this far. So it’s an honor as his grandmother to be here and support him and our family.”
The Texas A&M receiver’s full name is Kevin Concepcion Jr., but he goes by KC. He carries the Concepcion name on the back of his jersey proudly.
Concepcion appreciates his Latino fans
He embraces the opportunity to represent Puerto Ricans and fellow Latinos in general who take pride in having a Latino starring for the Aggies.
“I definitely appreciate the Latino community looking up to me,” KC Concepcion said earlier this season. “You feel me? Supporting me, it does not go unnoticed for me. I appreciate all you guys, and thank you for all that you guys do for me and my family.”
Concepcion has definitely felt the love from Texas A&M fans far beyond the Latino community. His great-grandmother and grandmother saw that love in person as more than 105,000 fans roared each time KC made a catch against Florida.
Kevin Sr. had attended three games at Kyle Field already, but Saturday marked the first visit for KC’s grandmother and great-grandmother.
“It’s great. It’s a dream,” the elder Concepcion said. “My mom was 16 when she had me. My grandmother raised me, so both of them are my mother figures. But my grandmother, that’s my baby. I’ve always told KC how special she is to me.
“These are his only grandparents that he has living. So to be able to come here and enjoy this game with my mom, my grandmother, my daughter, my wife, my son, for the first time it’s great.”
José de Jesus Ortiz
Founder & Editor in Chief
Award-winning writer José de Jesus Ortiz, a former lead sports columnist at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has covered Major League Baseball since 1997 in Los Angeles, St. Petersburg, New York and Houston. He was the first Latino to serve as president of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
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