Iowa football: Defensive line is receiving well-deserved recognition

The defensive line for the Iowa football team will be a strength for the team in 2019. Media sources around the country are starting to take notice as well.

A.J. Epenesa will be the unquestioned leader of the Iowa football defensive line this season. The front seven as a whole should be a strength for the Hawkeyes this season. As for the guys up front, media sources around the country think this could be Kirk Ferentz’ best defensive line yet.

Bleacher Report put out an article ranking the Top 10 defensive lines in the country and the Hawks are sitting pretty at number 9 right behind the Auburn Tigers.

"Epenesa may single-handedly prove us wrong, but Iowa doesn’t have a rich enough history of pass-rushing dominance to be ranked any higher than this. Frankly, it’s a testament to Epenesa’s talent that we’re even willing to consider a team that neither recruits at an elite level nor has more than two returning players with multiple sacks in 2018. – Bleacher Report"

Epenesa has been in a word, dominate, through his first two seasons as a part-time player to boot. He’ll get the opportunity to be the starter this season, which should open the door for other guys on the line. Epenesa will likely get the Adrian Clayborn treatment this season.

By that, I mean he will be double-teamed by opposing offensive lines. Watch for guys like Cedrick Lattimore, Brady Reiff, and Chauncey Golston to rack up stats on the box score. Epenesa will get his numbers but it would not surprise me at all if Golston finished with higher sacks than him.

Epenesa is likely a top-five NFL draft pick in the 2020 draft and has the most sacks among returning players. His production on the field not only impacts the other three guys lined up next to him but the defense as a whole. He doesn’t have to have double-digit sacks to make an impact.

Applying pressure to the quarterback can create bad throws which leads to opportunities for the guys behind him.