Iowa trending for 5-star DL and Hawkeyes legacy Iose Epenesa

Since Edwardsville (Ill.) five-star defensive lineman Iose Epenesa broke onto the scene as a national recruit, all eyes have been on Iowa.

Epenesa’s father, Eppy, played defensive back for the Hawkeyes. One older brother. A.J., was a two-time All-Big Ten selection in Iowa City before heading to the NFL. And another brother, Eric, is currently on Iowa’s roster as well.

What many thought was a shoo-in has been anything but that, as schools like Miami, Utah, Missouri and Penn State have made things very interesting in his recruitment. Iose Epenesa took official visits to each of those programs in May and June and has been in no rush to make a college commitment before his senior season starts.

However, a program has emerged as the favorite to land him in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM). And it is indeed the Hawkeyes. That comes after an expert pick from HawkeyeReport.com insider Tom Kakert on Saturday.

Recruitment of Epenesa has stretched over three years

Iowa was the second program to offer Epenesa back in June of 2021. Other offers rolled in, and he visited dozens of schools over the past few years, including the official visits.

His OV to Iowa City was a special one though, his father told On3’s Steve Wiltfong. Epenesa and his parents sat down for lunch with Kirk Ferentz and the entire staff, and Iose’s older brother AJ walked in and surprised his younger brother. 

“Surprised everybody,” the Epenesa boys’ father Eppy said. “Even the coaches were super excited to see him there.”

The Hawkeyes coaching staff also gave him a plan for how they see him succeeding in their system.

“They talked to Iose about what they could bring,” Eppy said. “It was eye-opening for Iose to see hear, telling him there is no such thing as flashy. Straight telling Iose you come in here, we need you to come in here and work. When you work hard, a lot of great things will happen to you. It’s an old-school way, we can’t showcase flashy things. They tell you basic things we do at Iowa, get down and do your job and everything will fall in place when you’re here. … (The visit) confirmed what Iowa is all about and makes me a proud Hawkeye.”

The 6-foot-3, 265-pounder is the No. 32 overall prospect in the 2025 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He ranks as the nation’s No. 3 defensive lineman and No. 1 recruit in Illinois.