AJ Epenesa | EDGE | Iowa
Height | 6-6
Weight | 280
Class | Junior
Strengths
- Excellent hand usage and strength at the point of attack
- Powerful hands that overwhelms offensive tackles
- Plays with great leverage at the point of attack
- Very developed pass rusher with wide array of moves
- Showcases ability to use club, push-pull, bull rush, and other pass rush moves
- Tireless motor and energy on every play
- Excellent closing speed in pursuit of the ball carrier
- Great timing off the snap
- Excellent leadership on and off the field for the Hawkeyes
Weaknesses
- Good bend, but not great around the edge
- Not very explosive off the line, wins mostly with technique
- Overall speed and athleticism are a bit of a concern as he isn’t elite in these areas
- Needs to work on his counters after his initial rush move is stopped
Bottom Line
One of the top players in the country, Epenesa looks to be a top pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. His strength, technique, and leadership should make him one of the safer picks in this draft class as he does everything that a coach could want from a defensive end.
He had a fairly quiet start to the 2019 season, but all the traits from a technique standpoint are there on film. The only concern is if teams will be willing to overlook some athletic limitations in his game that may limit his upside. He should be a very good NFL player for a long time regardless.
