26. A.J. Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa
Height: 6’5″ Weight: 275
40-Yard Dash: 5.04 seconds
Bench Press: 17 reps
Vertical Jump: 32.5 inches
Broad Jump: 117.0 inches
3-Cone Drill: 7.34 seconds
20-Yard Shuttle: 4.46 seconds
60-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Bio: Epenesa was the top-ranked defensive end recruit coming out of high school and chose Iowa over a host of interested schools. Though he was a starter for just one season with the Hawkeyes, he saw action as a true freshman, amassing 5.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. Overall in three seasons, Epenesa totaled 101 tackles, 36 tackles for loss, and 26.5 sacks while lining up all over the formation.
“I guess D-line play really has all the same basics and fundamentals and it’s just kind of sticking to the fundamentals and football is always football,” Epenesa said at the combine about playing different positions along the defensive line. “But there’s different techniques and everything, so I’m just looking for someone to kind of teach me that way. Someone to show me the ropes just to get me started and get my feet running and I can take it from there and learn on my own. I never played in the inside with significant reps, just in pass rush situations, but I feel like the more reps I get, the better I can be.”
Stat to Know: Last season, Epenesa played just 92 snaps inside the tackles, and 669 outside. He managed 11.5 sacks, 14 quarterback hits, and 31 quarterback hurries in 450 pass-rushing snaps.
Strengths: Moves to the tackle with a head of steam and nasty intentions, using his hands to prevent latches from blockers and consistently disengage. Impressively stubborn when it comes to losing strength battles; Epenesa seems to take that as a personal affront. Uses excellent footwork to feint tackles out of a solid base. Natural grappler who enjoys contact and knows how to generate power with his hands and upper body. Has the diagnostic ability to shake loose from blocks and move to the run game.
Weaknesses: Epenesa isn’t really inherently quick in any aspect of his game — he accelerates off the snap as opposed to exploding off it, he gets to the pocket with awareness as opposed to velocity, and he needs a plan against mobile quarterbacks as they’re bailing the pocket, or he’ll get left behind.
Conclusion: While I like Epenesa as a power-based end with some similarities to Frank Clark, I think his power, nastiness, and ability to dislodge from contact make him a natural fit as an inside/outside hybrid rusher. Epenesa doesn’t explode off the tape as you might expect from a top edge-rusher, but given the extent to which multi-gap defenders are valued in today’s NFL, teams might find him more valuable than those who are sitting around waiting for highlights.
NFL Comparison: Trey Flowers. When Flowers played with the Patriots and turned himself into the type of defender who could earn a five-year, $90 million contract from the Lions, he did so by becoming an equal force on either side of the tackles. Epenesa will be highly-regarded by coaches and defensive coordinators who value positional flexibility and workable tools over raw athletic gifts.