Five-star defensive lineman Iose Epenesa from the class of 2025 has announced his commitment to the Iowa Hawkeyes, as reported by On3.
Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 270 pounds, Epenesa is among the most sought-after recruits in his class. He plays at Edwardsville High School in Illinois and is ranked as the No. 3 defensive lineman, the top player in his state, and the No. 16 overall recruit for 2025.
Epenesa opted for Iowa over offers from Penn State and Utah, with family connections likely influencing his decision.
The Epenesa family has strong ties to the Hawkeyes. Iose’s father, Eppy, was a walk-on at Iowa, and his older brother, A.J., a two-time All-Big Ten player, is currently with the Buffalo Bills. Additionally, Iose’s brother Eric is a junior linebacker on the Iowa roster. All of Iose’s brothers have played under head coach Kirk Ferentz and defensive coordinator Phil Parker.
Epenesa is now a key player in Iowa’s 2025 recruiting class, which currently has 14 commitments and is ranked 50th nationally by 247Sports.
Head coach Kirk Ferentz and his staff have a track record of maximizing resources, particularly on defense. The Hawkeyes finished second in total defense in 2022 and seventh in the previous season.
Iowa will kick off the 2024 season at home against Illinois State on August 31, with the game starting at noon ET on the Big Ten Network.
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