Iowa’s Epenesa, Alabama’s Lewis, S. Carolina’s Kinlaw come up big during NFL Combine measurements

The initial measurements continued Wednesday with the defensive linemen and linebackers.

And while Chase Young of Ohio State is the undisputed top-rated lineman in the 2020 NFL draft, Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa may have moved a little closer to the status of second-best pass rusher.

Epenesa was measured at 6-foot-5 1/8 inches, 275 pounds with an arm length 34 4/8 inches and a wingspan of 81 2/8 inches.

By comparison, Young measured at 6-foot-4 7/8, 264 pounds with 33 6/8 inch arm length and a wingspan of 80 5/8 inches, also outstanding.

The question surrounding Epenesa is where he’ll play at the next level. The junior played most of the season at defensive end but kicked inside quite a bit and excelled there, too.

The handful of players the past several years with the most similar measurements have fared well thus far. Former USC DL Rasheem Green (6-5, 275) was a third-round pick by Seattle in 2018, while Texas’ Charles Omenihu (6-5, 280) was a fifth-round pick by Houston last season. Green has five sacks in two seasons thus far, including four last year when he started eight games. Omenihu had 3 sacks last year as a rookie.

The better comparison might be former Michigan lineman Rashan Gary, who was the No. 12 pick overall last season and another player who played inside and outside in college. Gary (6-5, 277), though, struggled at times as a rookie, registering just 2 sacks.

When you watch the NFL Combine workouts this week in prime time, keep this chart handy. My updated target test results (minimums) for each position and event. pic.twitter.com/Is0O8l0pcR

— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) February 24, 2020

Other measurements of note:

• K’Lavon Chaisson, LSU (6-3, 254; 32 2/8”; 79 2/8”): All are good numbers, but Chaisson is one of four LSU players who are skipping the on-field drills in favor of LSU’s Pro Day (QB Joe Burrow, S Grant Delpit and TE Thaddeus Moss are the others). His medical evaluation is crucial.
• Terrell Lewis, Alabama (6-5 2/8”, 262; 33 7/8”; 83 4/8”): Another player whose medical reports will be crucial, Lewis had the second-best wingspan out of all the linemen.
• Khalid Kareem (6-3 6/8”, 268; 34 3/8”; 84”) and Julian Okwara (6-4 2/8”, 252; 34 3/8”; 81 6/8”), Notre Dame: Both had outstanding measurements, with Kareem leading the way with the longest wingspan.
• Darrell Taylor, Tennessee (6-3 5/8”, 267; 33”; 80”): Pretty strong numbers, surprisingly long wingspan.
• Yetur Gross Matos, Penn State (6-5, 266; 34 7/8”; 82 2/8”)
• Nick Coe (6-4, 5/8”, 280; 33 6/8”; 80 6/8”) and Marlon Davidson (6-3 3/8”, 303; 33”; 80 4/8”), Auburn: Both showed they have the size to potentially kick inside to tackle, maybe even full-time.
• Leki Fotu, Utah (6-5 3/8”, 330; 34 2/8”; 79”): Tallest of any of the defensive linemen.
• Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina (6-5 1/8”, 324; 34 7/8”; 83 6/8”): Tied Benito Jones of Mississippi for longest wingspan of any defensive linemen.
• Derrick Brown, Auburn (6-4 5/8”, 326; 34 2/8”; 80 7/8”): Solid numbers. By comparison, last year’s top DT, Quinnen Williams of Alabama measured 6-3, 303 pounds with 33 1/4” arms and an 80 2/8” wingspan.
• The top three LBs look solid: Isaiah Simmons of Clemson (6-3 5/8”, 238; 33 3/8”; 81 7/8”), Patrick Queen of LSU (6-0 2/8”, 229; 31 5/8”; 76 7/8”) and Kenneth Murray of Oklahoma (6-2 4/8”, 241; 32 6/8”; 80”). All could run 4.5 or better 40 times, too.
• Only three LBs measured under 6-feet: Michigan’s Khaleke Hudson (5-11, 224), Miami’s Michael Pinckney (5-11 1/8, 235) and Arkansas’ De’Jon Harris (5-11 5/8, 234).

You can find the DL measurements here and the LB measurements here.

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New this year: Players will be weighed for a second time, shortly before their on-field drills.

From the NFL Network:

“The committee general managers formed to consider changes requested the second weight due to the extended time at the combine and the gap between a player’s initial weigh-in and workout day. Similar to a pro day, (NFL Network’s Tom) Pelissero was told, it is important to know the weight on the day of a workout.”