Miami Hurricanes trending for 5-star DL Iose Epenesa

The Miami Hurricanes are trending for Edwardsville (Ill.) five-star defensive lineman Iose Epenesa, per the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).

Last week, Miami insider Gary Ferman logged an expert prediction favoring the Hurricanes, and now The U sits at a 79.6% chance of landing Epenesa in the RPM.

On3’s Steve Wiltfong put Miami and Utah in the top tier of Epenesa’s recruitment last week.

“Iose Epenesa took official visits to Penn State, Missouri, Iowa, Utah and Miami and coming out of those trips the blue-chipper saw things he loved at each place,” Wiltfong wrote. “With that being said, I like where the Hurricanes and Utes stand. Because of family connections both coaching staffs have been recruiting him for a long time. Utah was first to offer him in middle school. Miami has poured into this one. He loves those two and it’s up to the other three to make a move on the Utes or Hurricanes. Epenesa will try and commit before his senior season.”

The 6-foot-3, 265-pound Epenesa also made the ‘Future Freaks’ list from On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power.

Epenesa is the nation’s No. 32 overall prospect, No. 3 defensive lineman and top recruit from Illinois in the 2025 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking — a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

He is the brother of former Iowa star and current Buffalo Bills defensive lineman A.J. Epenesa. His father and other brother Eric also played in Iowa City.

Latest on Miami recruiting

On Saturday, the Hurricanes added Phenix City (Ala.) Central four-star Daylyn Upshaw to their wide receiver room. Upshaw is the 379th-ranked player in the 2025 class, per the On3 Industry Ranking.

He joined a class that has fellow On3 Industry four-stars in quarterback Luke Nickel, safeties Hylton Stubbs and Amari Wallace, cornerback Chris Ewald, offensive linemen SJ Alofaituli and Max Buchanan, linebackers Gavin Nix and Elijah Melendez, tight ends Brock Schott and Luka Gilbert and edge rusher Herbert Scroggins.