As the NFL Draft begins, both AJ Epenesa and Jeff Thomas should hear names called
Two of the top St. Louis area athletes in recent memory, Edwardsville’s AJ Epenesa and Jeff Thomas of East St. Louis are about to find out where their professional football careers will begin.
A two-time first team all Big 10 Conference defensive end at the University of Iowa, Epenesa is projected as a first round selection when the National Football League holds its annual draft beginning Thursday.
Originally scheduled to be held in Las Vegas to coincide with the Las Vegas Raiders’ move to the city, the 2020 draft will be held remotely due to COVID-19. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will announce the first round selections from his home and NFL franchises will also make their selections from home. Players will be notified at their home with cameras sent to 58 of the top players to get their reactions.
The 6-5, 275-pound Epenesa is sure to be among that group. In recent NFL mock drafts released in recent weeks, Epenesa is mentioned to be picked anywhere between the No. 18 selection to the No. 40 selection. The Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots are among those teams NFL draft analysts have Epenesa going to in their mock selections.
Two of the more well respected draft analysts, Peter King of NBC Sports and Todd McShay of ESPN, have Epenesa going different places. King has Epenesa being taken with the No. 18 pick by Miami, while McShay has Epenesa being taken 23rd by New England.
Epenesa will enter the NFL after three exceptional years with the Iowa Hawkeyes. An Associated Press second team All-American in 2019, Epenesa concluded the season with 49 tackles, including 32 solos. He also led the team in tackles for loss with 14 and had 11 1/2 quarterback sacks. For his college career, he had 101 tackles and 26 1/2 sacks.
Thomas expected mid-round pick
A premier wide receiver and one of the most highly-recruited players in the nation during his senior year at East St. Louis, Thomas will hear his name announced as an NFL draft selection this weekend after a three-year career at the University of Miami, Florida.
Thomas is projected as a possible fifth round draft choice according to ESPN NFL analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
Thomas caught 83 passes for 1,316 yards and eight touchdowns in his college career after finishing his high school career with 191 receptions for 3,578 yards and 59 touchdowns.
NFL Draft broadcast times
The 2020 NFL Draft begins at 7 p.m. Thursday and will be broadcast by both ESPN and the NFL Network. Rounds two and three will be held Friday beginning at 6 p.m. with the final four rounds taking place Saturday beginning at 11 a.m.
This story was originally published April 22, 2020 at 4:26 PM.
