Iowa football: Will we be seeing more of AJ Epenesa?
By Andrew Wade
Through four games, AJ Epenesa has been on a tear for the Iowa football program. Will w e be seeing him play more as the season progresses?
It’s not very common for the Iowa football program to snag a player as highly touted as AJ Epenesa. In fact, it has never happened in the modern-day of online recruit rankings. Epenesa is the most highly decorated high school player to suit up for the Hawkeyes since Rivals and ESPN rankings have become a thing.
Suffice to say through four games this season, Epenesa has lived up to the hype despite having never started a game for the black and gold. He’s already won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors and has been named to our weekly standout performers of the week list. Epenesa has been such a dominant force on passing downs that he is currently tied for the lead in sacks in the Big Ten next to future top ten pick, Nick Bosa. His four sacks has him tied for 10th in the nation.
He has done all of this without starting a game and with limited snaps on defense, but could that be changing here in the future? For Phil Parker, he would love to see Epenesa in there as much as possible, but it’s a matter of getting better at stopping the run. So far, he’s been up to the task.
Here is what Parker had to say in Wednesday’s press conference with the Iowa football coordinators:
"Yeah, he’s playing the run. He’s starting to play the run the way he should. So we’re pleased with that."
The big tidbit that Parker revealed though is that although they would love to see Epenesa in on more snaps, is that the most effective option given the depth of the line? According to Parker, playing AJ in limited snaps might be the best way to unleash his fury on opposing team’s offensive lines.
"Yeah, the way he’s been working is really good. The one thing about it, we always want to make sure the depth of our defensive line, and the multiple positions that the guys can play inside and outside and make sure that our guys are fresh, I think has been more productive. If we played him more, would he be as productive? That’s the thing you’ve got to really watch out. I really think the way we’re handling the situation, and it worked out the first four weeks, is that 25, 26, reps a game has really been his potential to really make some big plays."
If that’s the best way to keep Epenesa terrorizing offenses, then I am all for it, and opposing teams are always being forced to take notice.
Against Iowa State, Epenesa was putting the Cyclones tackles on skates, producing two sacks and a game-clinching forced fumble, and in the biggest game of the season against the best offensive line in the nation (Wisconsin), Epenesa was man handling the Badger tackles.
I can tell you one thing, I am really excited that Epenesa has at least another season in the Iowa football program. Given his development so far, he could go down as one of the best defensive lineman in Hawkeye history.