Head coaches visiting the No. 2 ranked DL in 247Sports Epenesa Iose
Edwardsville (Ill.) High Top247 2025 prospect Iose Epenesa, the No. 2 defensive lineman and No. 18 prospect overall in the 247Sports Player Rankings, has several schools in the mix of his recruitment as the spring rapidly approaches. Certainly that list includes Iowa, where one of his older brother Eric currently plays and where his other oldest brother AJ starred. His father Eppy also suited up for the Hawkeyes.
Three Keys and a Pick: Iowa hosts struggling Ohio State on Friday night in Iowa City
Iowa basketball is back in action on Friday, Feb. 2 as the Hawkeyes will host Ohio State. The Hawkeyes are coming off a 74-68 road loss to Indiana on Tuesday, while the Buckeyes just took a double-digit home loss on the chin to Illinois earlier this week. Iowa is 12-9 with a 4-6 record in Big Ten play, while Ohio State is 13-8 overall and 3-7 in the Big Ten as the Buckeyes have lost six of their last seven games.
East-West Shrine Bowl Preview: Prospect To Know The 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl offered one of its strongest rosters in years, boasting a blend of senior and underclass talent for evaluators to get a look at. Here are the names to watch in tonight’s contest.
The 2024 East-West Shrine Bowl offered one of its strongest rosters in years, boasting a blend of senior and underclass talent for evaluators to get a look at. The Cleveland Browns have eight draft picks to use in the 2024 NFL Draft, and will certainly consider a handful of Shrine Bowl participants. Which Shrine Bowl prospects stood out in practice, and what should the Browns be looking for in Thursday’s game? We answer those questions with our top performers for the week by position below. RUNNING BACK
Memphis’s Blake Watson
Watson is the most well-known back in the Shrine Game. At 6’1″ and 220 pounds, Watson is well-built, has a full game, and is the ideal size for an NFL starter. In a class without stars, Watson is receiving shockingly little fanfare, and he will probably be the latest late-round back to significantly surpass his rookie contract.
Being a huge winner in the all-star game workouts is difficult for a back, but Watson performed as expected in drills as a receiver and showed good quickness. Because he possesses the essential subtlety to be efficient, he is a very productive individual and a good athlete for his height. Although he still needs to improve, he has the tools to be a strong pass blocker.
Cleveland might locate their
RB2, assuming Watson is selected on the third day of the draft.
Malik, Virginia
Malik Washington was the best offensive player at the Shrine Bowl, despite his small stature of 5’8″. Washington is primed to make his NFL debut right now, having already demonstrated excellent production. Most teams will try to fit him into the slot, but he can take advantage of every opportunity because to his good hands, ability to track the ball, and flexible hips when taking short routes.
His ability to split the defense and frighten opponents would be a great asset to Cleveland’s receiving group. He simply knows how to play football at a high level, and he won’t cost more than a Day 3 choice.
Washington, Tahj, USC
Like Malik, Washington plays a higher level on the field than he does while dressed casually. The USC standout can field long passes within his overall range and moves with lightning speed. In addition to being a clear deep danger, Kevin Stefanski would require a particular scheme for Washington to be effective because of his small stature and quicker than rapid speed.
Washington is an excellent player who has a lot of explosiveness and should only be selected in the late rounds. His build and style of play make him risky as well, although a unit lacking speed could benefit from having a low-cost big-play threat.
Isaiah Williams, Chicago
Isaiah Williams is the best athlete at the receiver position. The 5’10”, 180-pound player established himself as a reliable option for quarterbacks with a number of impressive catches. I was reminded of current Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas during his practice sessions. Douglas was a strong rookie in 2023.
Williams had a possession role at Illinois, but he is a more dynamic player. His agility and a reliable set of releases when pressured would be valuable assets to Cleveland. Although Williams’ skill set won’t allow him to pass on a better player earlier in the draft, he will eventually make an active roster thanks to his abilities.
Holker, Dallin, Colorado State
There aren’t enough genuine contributors in the tight end class. Holker was the best receiver available at the position in Frisco. A useful seam threat with a 6’5″ size and quickness, Holker can capitalize on plays that are designed to put him in space and misdirect opponents.
Holker is not very powerful or large, yet he competes as a blocker. Although Cleveland hasn’t sought for a pure receiving threat at the position, giving Deshaun Watson more offensive options may increase interest in a weapon like Holker. On Day 3, he ought to hear his name called late.
Eastern Kentucky’s Josiah Ezirim
The ability to take raw talent and refine it over time is one of the benefits of having perhaps the best offensive line coach in the NFL. Josiah Ezirim is a big man with some tackle expertise, but he can improve his technique a lot more consistently.
Cleveland has accomplished a lot more with far less. The 6’6″, 320-pound player is strong and moves fairly well for his size. By using a late-round selection and giving him a year or two to hone his skill, the team might be able to get a solid backup swing tackle.
Oklahoman Walter Rouse
Walter Rouse of Oklahoma is the team’s top tackle prospect. The former star player for Stanford is not the strongest man in the room, nor does he possess exceptional athleticism or movement skills. Still, he succeeds in his mission by surviving.
Rouse is valuable as an experienced, capable blocker who can be a cheap backup for four years, but just winning reps does not guarantee that he will be a plus starter for any team.
UCLA’s Grayson Murphy
Grayson, one of the two Gabriel brothers at the Shrine Bowl, has always been the superior player. The quick and adaptable pass-rusher is nearly as good as a Micah Parsons from Dollar General when set up all over the field. With his quickness off the line, he can get to the outside shoulder of tackles and perhaps establish himself as a situational pass-rusher on third downs.
Colorado State’s Mohamed Kamara
Kamara, one of the top sack artists in the country, just has a knack for going after quarterbacks. At just 6’0″, he is small, but shorter pass rushers have been effective in certain situations. Though there aren’t many available roster slots in Cleveland, a quick threat off the edge with surprising run defense skills might make it.
Cleveland usually prefers youth and length, but Kamara’s late-career surge and size will move him down draft rankings. Would the Browns’ Day 3 selection of a quality football player end a trend?
Logan Lee, Iowa
Although none of the prospects on the interior defensive line were able to win the week, Lee was the most notable. Although he isn’t a particularly impressive performance, the NFL will benefit from his strong, fast hands. If Lee is invited to the Scouting Combine, his athleticism showed more in this environment than it did in college, and he might develop into a promising prospect.
On Day 3, Cleveland might be considering bringing in a developing player like Lee.
DeLoach, Kalen, Florida State
DeLoach was the most athletic defender on the field. Is Cleveland looking for another flier who is undersized at linebacker? Over the previous three seasons, DeLoach filled up the stat sheet, fitting the mold of a quasi-linebacker and safety. Although he’s a competent player, you wouldn’t usually want him next to another undersized linebacker because he’s not a hammer in the box.
MJ Devonshire and Pitt
Devonshire, a cornerback who was all over the field, is another pure football guy you want on the team because of his strong football IQ and propensity to produce. Devonshire plays bigger than his 5’10”, 190-pound size suggests and works well to mirror receivers. He will probably play as a slot defender at the next level. He’ll locate the ball and make a play at the point of catch.
If Cleveland is willing to trade Greg Newsome II, it would be wise to add a replacement slot defender if that is even a remote possibility.
Texas Tech’s Dadrion Taylor-Demerson
It should come as no surprise that Taylor-Demerson stood out in the Shrine Game after recording 11 interceptions in the previous three seasons. During that same period, he averaged 62 or more tackles every year as a reliable, all-around performer.
Taylor-Demerson is 195 pounds and 5’11”, so he’s not really noticeable. He may be a two-high defender or play in the slot. Each year, good safeties get taken late, and he is my choice to be a player who might easily contribute to the Browns in the future.
Green, Renardo, Florida State
This week, Green was the standout outside cornerback on the field. He may not be around for long once Day 3 gets underway at 6’0″ and 185 pounds. And Cleveland might not be able to afford the expense.
Despite his lack of ball production, Green is more competitive and physically matches their mold. Although he has only ever had one pick in this situation in his career, he is a longer corner with more turn-around potential. Given how well he performed in Frisco, he might be valuable to have stashed away as a backup.