A pair of Hawkeye team mates were taken in day two of the NFL Draft after Tristan Wilfs was selected in the first round on Thursday.
BRONXVILLE, N.Y — University of Iowa junior defensive end A.J. Epenesa was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of Thursday’s NFL Draft. He was the 54th player picked overall and the 22nd selection of the second round.
The defensive MVP of the 2019 Holiday Bowl, Epenesa was named second-team All-America by Walter Camp and first-team All-Big Ten by league coaches and media.
With the 6-foot-6, 280-pound Epenesa on the defensive line last season, the Hawkeyes won 10 games and limited opponents to 308.2 yards (196 passing, 113 rushing) and 14 points per game. In 13 games, Epenesa compiled 49 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, nine quarterback hurries, and four forced fumbles.
BRONXVILLE, N.Y — University of Iowa senior defensive back Michael Ojemudia was selected by the Denver Broncos in the third round of Friday’s NFL Draft. Ojemudia was the 77th player picked overall.
Iowa has had a defensive back selected in four consecutive drafts: Desmond King (San Diego, 2017), Josh Jackson (Green Bay, 2018), and Amani Hooker (Tennessee, 2019). Ojemudia is the 15th defensive back selected in the Kirk Ferentz era.
Ojemudia was named second-team All-Big Ten by league media, The Associated Press and Phil Steele. He was third-team All-Big Ten by league coaches and earned the team Coaches Appreciation Award for defense.
