Name: A.J. Epenesa
Position: Edge
College: Iowa
Class: Junior
Height: 6’6
Weight: 280
Draft Grade: Mid second-round
Draft Projection: First to Second-Round
A.J. Epenesa Edge Iowa
Athletic Ability
A.J. Epenesa is surprisingly nimble for his size but he isn’t going to wow anyone during the agility drills. He has an average burst off the line, decent bend around the edge but he needs to improve his flexibility.
Competitiveness
The Iowa product has a great closing burst and knows how to finish. He’s a high motor athlete and just a relentless defender who doesn’t take any plays off.
Mental Alertness
Epenesa shows good play recognition. He’ll need to improve overall awareness, especially versus the option. He will often crash hard on the running back, leaving open grass for the quarterback.
Strength/Durability
Epenesa is simply an imposing force. Brute strength is his greatest asset. There are many offensive tackles in the Big Ten who were tossed around like rag dolls when lined up across from him. He has the size to play inside and handle his own if asked to. Durability hasn’t been an issue to this point in his career.
Position Skill
Epenesa has long arms that are able to swat down passes at the line of scrimmage. He shows good technique, is great at keeping his hands inside and takes off with a flat back. He gets good penetration and always seems to be in the backfield. But he often relies too heavily on his strength.
Outside of a bull rush and stutter step, he doesn’t have many pass-rushing moves to win a battle after the initial point of contact. He needs to work on disengaging from blocks versus the run. He has strong hands and has the ability to fight through double teams. He has shown good tackling ability; he just swallows up the ball carrier.
Overall
A.J. Epenesa has solidified himself as an elite edge prospect for the 2020 NFL Draft. With his size and skill set, he could prosper in either a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme but is best suited for the former. Throughout his career, he has shown that he has the versatility to move inside and perform well which should only elevate his draft stock. Mathematically he grades out as a top of the second round selection, but with the premium placed on position, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him taken late in the first round.
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