The Buffalo Bills selected DE A.J. Epenesa with the No. 54 pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. Born in Oak Park, Kansas, Epenesa played football for the Tigers at Edwardsville High School in Edwardsville, Illinois. A star in the making, Epenesa earned First-Team all-state and all-conference honors three years in a row. He was also invited to the U.S. Army All-American Game prior to committing to Iowa.

A gifted athlete, Epenesa also played basketball and earned All-America track and field honors in high school. Epenesa posted 15 tackles (eight solo), 4.5 sacks, along with one forced fumble during his freshman year in Iowa. With J.J. Watt as his inspiration, Epenesa was a human wrecking ball for the Hawkeyes during his final two seasons. He racked up 22 sacks and forced eight fumbles over 26 games. Epenesa received Second-Team AP All-American and First-Team All-Conference accolades as a junior.

Epenesa entered the scouting season as a possible top-10 draft pick. Then came an awful 40-yard time of 5.04 seconds. However, speed off the edge was never a strong suit for Epenesa. It was his size, length, strength, plus a wide array of finesse moves that made him a star in Iowa. Epenesa played three seasons for the Hawkeyes and finished with 26.5 sacks and 36 tackles for a loss.

Here’s why SI’s Kevin Hanson ranked Epenesa as the No. 24 overall player on his big board:

The former Hawkeye wins with a blend of power, length, technique and heavy hands, and has the versatility to rush from the inside as well. While he started the 2019 season slowly, Epenesa closed the season strong with eight sacks and four forced fumbles over his final five games.

2019 stats (Junior; Iowa): 32 solo tackles, 49 total tackles, 11.5 sacks (13 games)

2018 stats (Sophomore; Iowa): 21 solo tackles, 37 total tackles, 10.5 sacks (13 games)

2017 stats (Freshman; Iowa): 8 solo tackles, 15 total tackles, 4.5 sacks (11 games)

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