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Ready to report: A.J. Epenesa

A.J. Epenesa reports to Iowa City on June 10th.
A.J. Epenesa reports to Iowa City on June 10th.

Five-star defensive end A.J. Epenesa is working on adding another state title in track this spring and then it will be off to Iowa City to begin his career with the Hawkeyes. We caught up with the 6-foot-6, 265-pound Epenesa, who will wear #54 as a freshman at Iowa, to talk about making the transition to college, his expectations coming in, and much more.

Q: When do you make the move to Iowa City this summer?

EPENESA: I move to Iowa City on June 10th.

Q: What are you looking forward to in starting workouts with the team?

EPENESA: I’m looking forward to competing and making myself a Big Ten football player.

Q: What are your goals for your freshman year?

EPENESA: Just to build myself to get better.

Q: Is the plan still to start out at defensive end or could you slide down to defensive tackle in certain situations?

EPENSA: As of right now, I am a defensive end and I would like to stay there, but whatever they need me to do I’ll do.

Q: What will it mean to you to walk out of the tunnel at Kinnick Stadium for the first time?

EPENESA: It will be a dream come true and just a feeling of awe and adrenaline.

Q: When you look back at everything, what was it about Iowa that made it the right place for you?

EPENESA: Iowa was just my dream. It was definitely the right place because anywhere else would've been a regret for me.

Q: What number will you be wearing at Iowa and can we get a quick height and weight update?

EPENESA: I will be wear #54 and I am currently 6'6", 265 pounds.

Q: Are you going to keep #54 or try to switch to #99 or #72 down the road?

EPENESA: I wanted #99 and hopefully will get that after my freshman year.

Q: Are you still planning to throw discus in college too?

EPENESA: For now.

Q: What is the goal the rest of the way for track season?

EPENESA: To win the discus and to compete for 1st in the shot.

Q: Any certain distances you are hoping to hit?

EPENESA: Above 60’ in the shot and get consistent with the 200’ throws in discus.

A five-star recruit, Epenesa committed to Iowa on January 17, 2016, choosing the Hawkeyes over scholarship offers from Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida State, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Ole Miss, USC, UCLA, Oregon State, Tennessee, Purdue, Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, Utah, and Washington State.

As a senior, Epenesa racked up 67 tackles and 14 TFL at Edwardsville this past season.

See highlights from Epenesa's senior year in the video below.

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