'17 IL DE A.J. Epees (Iowa Verbal)

ResLife Hero · Jan 13, 2015

Strong-Side Defensive End
Edwardsville, IL (Edwardsville)

Measurements

Height: 6'5"
Weight: 230

Rankings

Rivals: NR
247: :s:

98 Rating, #1 IL, #1 SDE, #2 Overall
Scout: NR
ESPN: NR

247 Composite: NR

Offers
Alabama
Florida State
Illinois
Iowa
Michigan
Michigan State
Mississippi
Missouri
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Oregon
Oregon State
Purdue
Tennessee
UCLA
USC
Utah
Vanderbilt
Washington State
Wisconsin

Highlights:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ZQZ1g37r4eA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

ResLife Hero · Jan 13, 2015

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a> coaching staff has several connections with five-star DE AJ Epenesa: <a href="http://t.co/ENr8W8Jp6S">http://t.co/ENr8W8Jp6S</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ND?src=hash">#ND</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Irish?src=hash">#Irish</a></p>— Notre Dame 247 (@NotreDame247) <a href="https://twitter.com/NotreDame247/status/555003636087267329">January 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ironman8 · Jan 29, 2015

Per a poster from his high school apparently Elliott will be out to visit him today.

Irish#1 · Jan 29, 2015

Ironman8 said:
Per a poster from his high school apparently Elliott will be out to visit him today.

Good, let's get involved early.

Irishman77 · Jan 29, 2015

One of my good buddies coached him in grade school (little Tigers). He said his dad played DL a Iowa and his sister can jump out of th gym.. Said they are all work out freaks!

Luckylucci · Jan 29, 2015

Irishman77 said:
One of my good buddies coached him in grade school (little Tigers). He said his dad played DL a Iowa and his sister can jump out of th gym.. Said they are all work out freaks!

You should read the article above. It gives some insight into his previous relationship with some Iowa alums that are currently at ND.

BleedBlueGold · Jan 29, 2015

We should probably slow play this kid.

ab2cmiller · Jan 29, 2015

I'm assuming that the "connections" that we have is Cooks played with his Dad at Iowa and Elliott was coaching at Iowa at that time as well.

Ironman8 · Jan 29, 2015

Notre Dame offered.

Ironman8 · Jan 29, 2015

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Edwardsville (Ill.) High five-star 2017 DE A.J. Epenesa lands an offer from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a>: <a href="http://t.co/aGUGW183bm">http://t.co/aGUGW183bm</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/247Sports">@247Sports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ND?src=hash">#ND</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Irish?src=hash">#Irish</a></p>— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) <a href="https://twitter.com/SWiltfong247/status/560921111882645504">January 29, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

GBdomer · Jan 29, 2015

Him and St. Brown to start the class

IrishFanJMercy · Jan 29, 2015

We are offering a lot of 17's early.

rtrn2glory · Jan 29, 2015

wow rankings for the sophomore class already....crazy how recruiting has exploded

Ironman8 · Jan 29, 2015

The same II poster said Elliott spent an hour at the school today with A.J.'s father watching basketball practice.

NDWorld247 · Jan 29, 2015

Samoan? Do want.

GBdomer · Jan 29, 2015

You know Star69 is just loving this, he would literally cry because we never offered kids early enough. He's probably having a field day right now

Buster Bluth · Jan 29, 2015

rtrn2glory said:
wow rankings for the sophomore class already....crazy how recruiting has exploded

Ohio State already has four stud commitments, three of them in the last two weeks.

NDPhilly · Jan 29, 2015

Buster Bluth said:
Ohio State already has four stud commitments, three of them in the last two weeks.

Holy Shit you weren't kidding

Ohio State 2017 Football Commits

247 composite average of .992 Jesus Christ

GoldenDomer · Jan 29, 2015

NDPhilly said:
Holy Shit you weren't kidding

Ohio State 2017 Football Commits

247 composite average of .992 Jesus Christ

Ironman8 · Jan 29, 2015

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Received my 13th offer the the Notre Dame fighting Irish!! <a href="http://t.co/6XSJ2mmkS4">pic.twitter.com/6XSJ2mmkS4</a></p>— Super Samoan (@ajepenesa24) <a href="https://twitter.com/ajepenesa24/status/560951893564735488">January 30, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

BeauBenken · Jan 29, 2015

NDPhilly said:
Holy Shit you weren't kidding

Ohio State 2017 Football Commits

247 composite average of .992 Jesus Christ

LOL at Danny Clark looking like one of those young football coaches trying to bring the visor back and/or just showing off that they still have hair to the old guys.

Cpnd1 · Jan 29, 2015

GBdomer said:
Him and St. Brown to start the class

These two and throw in Hunter Johson.

Ironman8 · Jan 29, 2015

Toy CB'ed to ND.

GoldenDomer · Jan 29, 2015

2 biggest takeaways from that highlight clip:

1. Love his change of direction. Looked as if he'd play the dive on the read option then changed direction and stopped the QB for a loss.

2. Looks like a technical player. You can see it the way he rips that arm through defenders; he takes coaching.

ThePiombino · Jan 30, 2015

Ironman8 said:
Toy CB'ed to ND.

The Loy CB recipe for success:

ND offers kid.
Kid ACKs on social media.
Loy CBs to ND.

TheTurningPoint · Jan 30, 2015

BeauBenken said:
LOL at Danny Clark looking like one of those young football coaches trying to bring the visor back and/or just showing off that they still have hair to the old guys.

That kid and his father define headcase.

BeauBenken · Jan 30, 2015

IrishTP said:
That kid and his father define headcase.

Perfect. Urban can bring a whole bunch of headcases to OSU like he did to Florida.

stlnd01 · Feb 9, 2015

Dang. My wife, a Domer, used to be a physical therapist in the next town over, worked with high school athletes all the time. Could've gotten in with this kid. Guess we'll have to leave it to Bob Elliot now.

ResLife Hero · Feb 26, 2015

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>2017 Edwardsville (IL) four-star DE A.J. Epenesa picked up an offer from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Michigan?src=hash">#Michigan</a> tonight: <a href="http://t.co/0N2Q9g6eLq">http://t.co/0N2Q9g6eLq</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AllenTrieu">@AllenTrieu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ajepenesa24">@ajepenesa24</a></p>— Doug Kimmel (@DougKimmelScout) <a href="https://twitter.com/DougKimmelScout/status/571101590712483840">February 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

irishff1014 · Mar 22, 2015

Wiltfong thinks we are at the top or very near the top for him.

'17 IL DE A.J. Epees (Iowa Verbal)

Well-known member

Well-known member

Jaqen H'ghar

Livin' Your Dream!

Well-known member

Administrator

Well-known member

Troublemaker in training

Jaqen H'ghar

Jaqen H'ghar

People's Champion

New member

Well-known member

Jaqen H'ghar

New member

People's Champion

Buster Bluth

Guest

Philly Torqued

preferred walk on

Jaqen H'ghar

Shut up, Richard

Well-known member

Jaqen H'ghar

preferred walk on

The OG "TP"

New member

Shut up, Richard

Was away. Now returned.

Well-known member

Well-known member