No. 1 DE visits Purdue to watch sis play volleyball

[Born Boiler]

A.J. Epenesa, ranked No. 1 at strongside defensive end in the recruiting class of 2017, visited Purdue with his family on Wednesday night to watch his sister, senior Sam Epenesa, and her 14th-ranked Boilermaker volleyball team play their next-to-last home match of the season.

The Edwardsville, Ill. junior looked good wearing black and gold -- a version of his sister's No. 4 black jersey, name included -- (although admittedly not as good as Sam and her teammates look wearing them.) He cheered her on and even went courtside to give her a fist bump during the match.

The volleyball team, whose courtside fans also include several Purdue football and basketball players, plays its home finale at 4 p.m. Saturday, just after the football finale.

A.J. has offers from at least 20 major programs, Purdue included.

https://rivals.yahoo.com/purdue/football/recruiting/player-A.J.-Epenesa-156327

 

[DG10]

A.J. Epenesa, ranked No. 1 at strongside defensive end in the recruiting class of 2017, visited Purdue with his family on Wednesday night to watch his sister, senior Sam Epenesa, and her 14th-ranked Boilermaker volleyball team play their next-to-last home match of the season.

The Edwardsville, Ill. junior looked good wearing black and gold -- a version of his sister's No. 4 black jersey, name included -- (although admittedly not as good as Sam and her teammates look wearing them.) He cheered her on and even went courtside to give her a fist bump during the match.

The volleyball team, whose courtside fans also include several Purdue football and basketball players, plays its home finale at 4 p.m. Saturday, just after the football finale.

A.J. has offers from at least 20 major programs, Purdue included.

https://rivals.yahoo.com/purdue/football/recruiting/player-A.J.-Epenesa-156327

I would guess that Brandon Peters was there to watch his sister as well, along with his parents (Purdue alums)...but he is going to UM because of the lousy job that Hazell and his crew had done with respect to his recruiting compounded by the debacle of a program that is in place now thanks to them...the recruitment of Epenesa was simply the result of his sister being on the volleyball team and thus no actual effort involved in genuinely recruiting the kid (who they admittedly had no chance at anyway). Crazy to even think about the fact that they had both guys on campus given the school's involved in their actual recruitment, more crazy that Purdue has tried to pitch the notion that they are genuinely recruiting them as well.

 

[Bigohh]

I would guess that Brandon Peters was there to watch his sister as well, along with his parents (Purdue alums)...but he is going to UM because of the lousy job that Hazell and his crew had done with respect to his recruiting compounded by the debacle of a program that is in place now thanks to them...the recruitment of Epenesa was simply the result of his sister being on the volleyball team and thus no actual effort involved in genuinely recruiting the kid (who they admittedly had no chance at anyway). Crazy to even think about the fact that they had both guys on campus given the school's involved in their actual recruitment, more crazy that Purdue has tried to pitch the notion that they are genuinely recruiting them as well.

The fact that they cannot seem to get a prime time recruit like this even when the connection is handed to them like this one is the extreme indictment of what is wrong with our program and specifically the coaching staff. Our NFL record with DE's alone should be of interest and adding the family connection should make it a slam dunk rather than the remote chance that it is characterized.

 

[pboiler18]

Purdue is actually recruiting Espanesa.

Don't think we will get him but we are not "fake" recruiting him as DG10 is trying to insinuate.

Kid is a top 10 recruit in the entire country. He has offers from elite programs. You're high if you thought he was a shoe in to come here and the only thing screwing that up is Hazell being here.

 

[Ross Mackey]

Edwardsville is a sports powerhouse--arguably the best in the metro St. Louis area.
Purdue would be well served to build strong relationships there.

 

[TC4THREE]

The fact that they cannot seem to get a prime time recruit like this even when the connection is handed to them like this one is the extreme indictment of what is wrong with our program and specifically the coaching staff. Our NFL record with DE's alone should be of interest and adding the family connection should make it a slam dunk rather than the remote chance that it is characterized.

Our current coaching staff had nothing to do with the players we have in the NFL. Why would any recruit care that Ryan Kerrigan, Drew Brees, or Kawaan Short played here? The infrastructure that surrounded those players isn't here anymore. There is nothing special in the water in West Lafayette that makes a player more likely to be a pro quarterback or defensive end. It's about coaching and player development and our current staff has proven very little. I'm a Purdue fan and I myself would not choose to play for this staff if I had other options. Top 100 recruits are a pipe dream as things currently stand and will be until this staff either turns it around or gets replaced.

 

[PaBoiler78]

Our current coaching staff had nothing to do with the players we have in the NFL. Why would any recruit care that Ryan Kerrigan, Drew Brees, or Kawaan Short played here? The infrastructure that surrounded those players isn't here anymore. There is nothing special in the water in the water in West Lafayette that makes a player more likely to be a pro quarterback or defensive end. It's about coaching and player development and our current staff has proven very little. I'm a Purdue fan and I myself would not choose to play for this staff if I had other options. Top 100 recruits are a pipe dream as things currently stand and will be until this staff either turns it at ND or gets replaced.

I agree, everytime we lose a commit or get close to a good recruit that chooses elsewhere I think of this and stops me from getting pissed.

 

[Born Boiler]

Our current coaching staff had nothing to do with the players we have in the NFL. Why would any recruit care that Ryan Kerrigan, Drew Brees, or Kawaan Short played here? The infrastructure that surrounded those players isn't here anymore. There is nothing special in the water in the water in West Lafayette that makes a player more likely to be a pro quarterback or defensive end. It's about coaching and player development and our current staff has proven very little. I'm a Purdue fan and I myself would not choose to play for this staff if I had other options. Top 100 recruits are a pipe dream as things currently stand and will be until this staff either turns it at ND or gets replaced.

Most of the Boilermakers on the banners in Mollenkopf emerged under different coaches and systems. The point is, they all played at Purdue and became stars. They don't surface every year, but a lot more have surfaced here than a lot of other places, so it's a valid selling point. And not all Top 100 players are front-runners. There's always some who like the idea of being "Empire Builders."