CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN'S DRAFT TRADES
A.J. EPENESA
HEIGHT/WEIGHT/AGE
6-foot-5
275 pounds
21 years old
BIG PICTURE
A.J. Epenesa made himself known to Minnesota fans last season when he terrorized the Gophers to the tune of 2.5 sacks in Iowa's upset win. Epenesa, a second generation Iowa player, had seven sacks over his final four college games and 22 in his final two seasons. He came to Iowa as a five-star recruit -- the first to commit there since 2009 -- after a successful high school career as a football, basketball and discus star. The power rusher ended his three-year career as an All-American, All-Big Ten player with high upside for the future.
COMBINE NOTABLES
5.04 40-yard dash
17 bench reps (T-worst)
32.5-inch vertical (T-8th)
117-inch broad jump
7.34 3-cone drill (7th)
4.46 20-yard shuttle
VIKINGS COMPATIBILITY RANKING
3 out of 5. Epenesa could be the second-best edge rusher in the class beyond Chase Young, which could mean he'll be long gone by Picks 22 and 25. Because of his immense talent, however, if he did dip into the 20s, the Vikings -- in need of an Everson Griffen replacement -- may be compelled by that value proposition.
HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT DRAFT EXPERTS SAY
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: "The size and production should force all evaluators to dial their focus in on what he's best at rather than any perceived areas of concern. He has average instincts against the run and is a step slow to shed, but he's strong at the point and he does his job. Epenesa won't just out-run tackles to the edge, but he's a skilled rusher whose diversity of attack, skilled hands and unique bull-rushing instincts could help him deliver his college sack production in the pros. He can play end in a 4-3 or 3-4 and could leap from good to great with additional work on technique and explosiveness."
Kyle Crabbs, Draft Network: "A.J. Epenesa projects well as a scheme diverse talent. His value comes in traffic but his penetration ability on the interior is matched by his ability to drive and collapse the POA. Epenesa is an ace run defender with reactive quickness and terrific length and hand power. His variety as a power rusher offers upside that most players of his stature don't typically have and as a result he should be coveted in the 2020 NFL Draft by teams regardless of scheme. Base 4-3 DE or 5T at the next level."
WHAT PFF SAYS
58 pressures in 2019 (87.8 pass-rushing grade)
Hurries on 9% of pass-rush snaps during career
76.4 run-stop grade (above-average)
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
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