HawkleberryFinn
Well-Known Member
Does he get to start once before he leaves for the NFL?
Will Epenesa Start Next Year?
- Thread starter HawkleberryFinn
- Start date
hawk4life73
Well-Known Member
Duh. Of course .He's awesome .
Hawk4fan, thanks for playing.
Hawk4fan, thanks for playing.
hawk4life73
Well-Known Member
I actually agree, but Clayborn was not the all-around athlete AJ is.
Once he gets his issues setting the edge fixed, which he seems to have done so late this season, he's going to be unstoppable.
hawk4life73
Well-Known Member
Teachers, not treasure. Lol .
archiehawk
Well-Known Member
Remains to he seen. If he continues to standout it could jeopardize his time on the field.
99topdawg
Well-Known Member
I know it's a looooong ways away, but he IS getting noticed. Here are two different mock draft write-ups/ 1st round projections for 2020:
10.
Buffalo Bills: A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
The Bills could use some young difference-makers on their defensive line.
Epenesa has been excellent for Iowa this season, recording seven sacks, two forced fumbles, one pass broken up and 19 tackles so far. The 6-foot-5, 277-pounder is a thick, physical and athletic defensive end who flashed pass-rush ability during an impressive freshman season for the Hawkeyes. That season, Epenesa totaled 4.5 sacks, 5.5 tackles for a loss, 15 tackles and one forced fumble. He looked like he was just scratching the surface of his potential.
7.
Indianapolis Colts: A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
The Colts can continue to address their defensive front, though I suspect they'll just take the best player available.
A.J. Epenesa was a five-star recruit who showed some major promise as a freshman, registering 4.5 sacks. He's been excellent in 2018.
10.
Buffalo Bills: A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
The Bills could use some young difference-makers on their defensive line.
Epenesa has been excellent for Iowa this season, recording seven sacks, two forced fumbles, one pass broken up and 19 tackles so far. The 6-foot-5, 277-pounder is a thick, physical and athletic defensive end who flashed pass-rush ability during an impressive freshman season for the Hawkeyes. That season, Epenesa totaled 4.5 sacks, 5.5 tackles for a loss, 15 tackles and one forced fumble. He looked like he was just scratching the surface of his potential.
7.
The Colts can continue to address their defensive front, though I suspect they'll just take the best player available.
A.J. Epenesa was a five-star recruit who showed some major promise as a freshman, registering 4.5 sacks. He's been excellent in 2018.
D
DDThompson
Guest
Yes, plus he was in for a lot of snaps in 2nd half because passing downs.
Martinez has improved a lot over the season. Already has better touch than Stanley.
hawkeyes87
Well-Known Member
I'm fortunate to live in St. Louis and was able to see both several times. While Clayborn was a very nice player, he did seem to be gassed at the end of some games. AJ, when I saw him never seemed to be tired in football or basketball. He had a high motor at all times. Kid worked out a lot as in cardio workouts.
So the not wanting him to be gassed in the 2nd half is total BS.
Clayborn was part of the Norm Parker phase of large, run stuffing DE's with decent straightline speed, and smaller, athletic interior guys who could make plays all over. He was something like 6'3" 280. Good part of why he fits in the 3-4 as a bulkier DE so well.
Well he was not the best in edge run stopping last year and even early this year. He has done a much better job on run downs the last few games.
That being said he will be a starter, he will play in all kinds of situations, and the way he hunted down martinez today when Adrian kept that keeper on AJs side was awesome. I mean AJ's feet were perfect, he didnt go flat along the LOS chasing the running back the other direction, he matched Martinezs fake and just tossed him like a rag doll.
Our Dends just like Clayborn and others still need to aim at the qbs shoulder closet to them and not let them get out of contain.
