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2020 NFL Draft: Prospect Studs and Duds After Week One

By Chris Ross

IOWA CITY, IOWA- AUGUST 31: Defensive end A.J. Epenesa #94 of the Iowa Hawkeyes puts pressure in the first half on quaterback Brett Gabbert #5 of the Miami Ohio RedHawks on August 31, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- AUGUST 31: Defensive end A.J. Epenesa #94 of the Iowa Hawkeyes puts pressure in the first half on quaterback Brett Gabbert #5 of the Miami Ohio RedHawks on August 31, 2019 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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A.J. Epenesa
IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 08: Defensive end A.J. Epenesa #94 of the Iowa Hawkeyes gives chase to running back David Montgomery #32 of the Iowa State Cyclones during the first half on September 8, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

Dud: A.J. Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa

For the first time in his collegiate career, A.J. Epenesa started a game for Iowa. Unfortunately, after an offseason of hype surrounding his talent, Epenesa found himself frequently double-teamed, and as a result, his effectiveness waned. Managing just a single tackle after being touted as a potential top-five pick in the 2020 draft is perhaps the most disappointing result of the entire college football weekend for any one player.

Miami (OH) made taking Epenesa out of the game a top priority, and, in many ways, it worked. Obviously, with so many blockers committed to Epenesa, it opened up lanes for others on the defense to wreak havoc, but the team deserves credit for neutralizing Iowa’s best player. As for Epenesa, it may be unfair to expect a player to consistently split double-teams, but on the other hand, the truly elite guys simply have to deal with that issue. It’s going to be fascinating to see if he will be able to overcome the extra attention or if he simply can’t handle being the main focus of opposing offenses.

Again, one week isn’t going to make-or-break Epenesa’s draft stock or his season, but it is a tough result anyway. Remember, this is a player that has dominated at times over the past couple of seasons, despite not technically being a starter for the team. When it’s all said and done, hopefully, Epenesa gets back on track and shows off the talent that made him such a highly-regarded prospect coming into the season.

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