Playing at Edwardsville High School in Edwardsville, Illinois, Epenesa garnered All-American honors in both football and track.[1] His father, Eppy, walked on to the Iowa football team after moving from American Samoa, and A. J. showed leanings towards Iowa throughout the recruiting process.[2] On January 17, 2016, Epenesa committed to Iowa.[3] He became the highest-rated recruit to play for a Kirk Ferentz-led team at Iowa.[4] He also played in the Army All-American Bowl and Polynesian Bowl after his senior year.[5]
Epenesa also won Illinois state titles in discus throw his junior and senior years.[6]
Epenesa did not start any games during his sophomore season, but still broke into the double digits for sacks and returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown.[1] His 11 sacks on the year led the Big Ten, and his four fumble recoveries tied for the conference lead.[9] He was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after games against Iowa State and Illinois.[10] Epenesa was named first-team All-Big Ten by the media and second-team by the coaches.[11]
Before his junior season, Epenesa was projected as a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft, with some estimations placing him as high as second.[12] Scouts touted both his strength and work ethic on the field.[13] Following a junior season with 11.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 49 tackles, Epenesa announced that he would forgo his senior year and declare for the 2020 NFL Draft.[14] After three seasons, he finished tied for 4th on Iowa's career sacks list.
Epenesa, who is of Samoan ethnicity, was named to the preseason Polynesian College Player of the Year Watch List in 2018 and 2019.[15] He was one of five finalists for the award in 2018.[16]
The Buffalo Bills selected Epenesa in the second round, 54th overall, of the 2020 NFL Draft.[19] He signed a four-year, $5.877 million contract, including a $1.834 million signing bonus, with the Bills on May 7, 2020.[20]
In Week 3 of the 2020 season, Epenesa recorded his first career sack in a 35–32 win over the Los Angeles Rams, tackling quarterback Jared Goff during the first quarter.[21] Epenesa finished his rookie season with 1 sack and 14 tackles, playing mainly as a backup defensive end, but earned a more prominent role on the team by the end of the season and dropped 20 pounds from his college playing weight of 280 pounds.[22]
After the drafting of Gregory Rousseau in the first round of the following draft and the Bills signing All-Pro pass rusher Von Miller the 2022 offseason, Epenesa continued as a rotational piece on the Bills' defensive line the next two years. He notably had a strong performance during a 35–0 Bills win against the Miami Dolphins in week 2 of the 2021 season, recording a team-leading 8 quarterback pressures and 2 quarterback hits, including one that knocked Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa out of the game.[23][24]
Epenesa had a breakout season in 2022, recording 6.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hits, 14 quarterback pressures, 16 total tackles, and 5 passes deflected, in addition to a fumble recovery, all career highs. In week 5 of the 2022 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Epenesa was ejected from the game with one minute left after he elbowed referee John Hussey in response to being pushed by the former during a brief ruckus between the Bills and Steelers that began when Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett shoved Bills defender Shaq Lawson for a late hit.[25] His best game of the season came against the New York Jets in week 14, in which he had a sack, five tackles, and a pass breakup on what would become New York's final offensive snap to seal a 20–12 Bills win. The Bills defensive line as a whole performed well despite a season-ending injury to Miller the previous week.[26]
In week 3 of the 2023 season against the Washington Commanders, Epenesa scored his first career defensive touchdown, intercepting Washington quarterback Sam Howell and returning the pass for a 32-yard touchdown during the Bills' 37–3 win.[27] He notably became the first alumnus of Edwardsville High School to score a touchdown in the NFL since Morris Bradshaw in 1982.[28]
On March 11, 2024, Epenesa signed a two-year contract extension with the Bills.[29]
Personal life
Epenesa's cousin, Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, is also a professional defensive end and is currently a free agent.[30] Epenesa's second cousin is Riley Patterson, a kicker for the Jacksonville Jaguars.[31] In 2024, Epensa's brother Iose, who plays football at Edwardsville High School in Illinois, is a four star 6-foot-4 and 270 pound defensive lineman recruit to the Iowa Hawkeyes football team beginning in the 2025 season.[32]
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