Texas A&M star KC Concepcion scores with Tejano Tailgaters

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The boys in the maroon No. 12 Texas A&M jerseys caught a glimpse of KC Concepcion and immediately stared at each other. They had been playing catch near Lot 67 across the street from Kyle Field as Tejano music played in the background when the star receiver and his parents headed their way.

The boys were so awestruck, they ran away from Concepcion. “Is that KC Concepcion?” one boy asked his father loud enough for several adults to hear. 

Sure enough, as KC’s dad Kevin Concepcion Sr. had promised the SECond to None Tejano Tailgaters on Saturday morning, KC visited them after the victory over Samford.

A taquero had set up earlier in the day to feed fajita, pastor and chicken tacos with watermelon agua fresca. By the time KC and his parents arrived, the tacos and agua fresca were gone. Only a few boxes of Cici’s Pizza remained.

One couple rushed toward the Concepcions with her pizza in hand offering a few slices. KC Concepcion, who has Puerto Rican roots from his father’s side, is proud of his African American and Latino roots. The NC State junior transfer became a fan favorite at Aggieland almost immediately.

Warm welcome

The 12th Man’s love only grew as KC delivered highlight after highlight this season for the No. 3 Aggies.

He had an electrifying, 80-yard punt return for a touchdown against UTSA. KC added crucial catches for 82 receiving yards against Notre Dame. Then he had one of the most memorable plays of the season with a punt return for a touchdown at LSU to help the Aggies win at Death Valley for the first time since 1994.

Concepcion and Mario Craver form one of the best receiving tandems in college football. His impact, however, cannot be measured by his impressive stats. Texas A&M coach Mike Elko, quarterback Marcel Reed, Craver and many other Aggies have praised Concepcion for his leadership on the field and off since he enrolled in January.

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Concepcion is a major reason the Aggies are 11-0 overall and 7-0 in SEC heading into the Lone Star Showdown against Texas on Friday night in Austin. With a victory, the Aggies would clinch a spot in their first SEC Championship Game and improve to 12-0 for the first time since 1992. 

Concepcion is beloved by Aggies, no doubt. He also has given Latino fans a player who represents them, just as Mexican American captain Taurean York has since some in the 12th Man found out he also is Latino.

‘Appreciate the Latino community’

“I definitely appreciate the Latino community looking up to me,” KC Concepcion told Our Esquina 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.”

That love was evident after the Aggies’ home regular season finale. The pre-teen boys weren’t the only ones left in awe by KC’s presence at the Tejano Tailgaters’ spot. There was such an uproar after KC arrived, adults from nearby tailgates strolled over to pose for pictures and get autographs.

KC gave hugs, signed autographs and posed for pictures for at least 45 minutes. He put his mark on every Aggies jersey, hat or 12th Man towel put in front of him. 

The Tejano Tailgaters have been at every A&M game for two decades. Most of the sponsors graduated from Texas A&M. Other sponsors have worked at the school or are the children and grandchildren of current and former Texas A&M employees. 

“Growing up in Bryan-College Station we never really had Latino players that we knew of at Texas A&M,” said Bryan attorney Jody Rodriguez, an A&M graduate and Tejano Tailgaters sponsor.  “And even though a lot of the community never graduated or attended Texas A&M, we are the backbone of Texas A&M.

“For generations, every single facet of that campus is powered by Latinos all our lives. Our fathers worked there. Our grandfathers, grandmothers, mothers, uncles and aunts worked there.”

Representation

Then Rodriguez rattled off the jobs that have been filled primarily by Latinos for generations at Texas A&M. Janitorial. Maintenance workers. Food service. Landscaping. By doing most blue-collar jobs on campus, Latinos have helped Texas A&M run.

A great portion of the ushers at Kyle Field, Reed Arena and Olsen Field are Latinos. Rodriguez’s late uncle Memo Rodriguez was a proud usher at Kyle Field for decades. Many of Rodriguez’s relatives have worked at A&M.

Jody, his older brother James and their cousin Peter Rodriguez have used their A&M degrees as stepping stones for careers as attorneys or educators.

James Rodriguez is a highly respected attorney in Houston. Peter is the award-winning Dean of Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business and Virani Undergraduate School of Business.

Despite their busy schedules, they can be found at Lot 67 with their friends and family before and after Texas A&M home football games. They’re proud of their Aggies, especially KC Concepcion and York.

Star Texas A&M receiver KC Concepcion just arrived at the SECond to None Tejano Tailgaters. #GigEm pic.twitter.com/rJD7oK1Iee

— Our Esquina (@OurEsquina) November 22, 2025

 

“Now that we have somebody like KC and Taurean to identify with, it’s just awesome,” Rodriguez said. “It makes us proud. To see how generous (KC) is with his time and how welcoming his family is, it’s great. I think they feel welcomed by us. 

“He was so generous with his time. The kids were awestruck. Frankly the adults were too. KC stuck around, signed every shirt, every hat, every 12th Man towel.”