Touted DL Iose Epenesa commits to Iowa Hawkeyes

When the process for Edwardsville (Ill.) High On300 defensive lineman Iose Epenesa first started the assumption was he would go to Iowa like his father Eppy and two older brothers AJ and Eric.

Although it wasn’t always smooth, in the end that’s indeed what happened.

On Thursday evening, Epenesa FaceTimed with his future head coach Kirk Ferentz and told him he’s a Hawkeye. He chose the family’s beloved program over his other finalists in Utah, Miami, Missouri and Penn State.

Epenesa’s mother Stephanie also attended school in Iowa City.

“We’ve been praying for this day for a long time,” Eppy told On3 prior to the announcement going public. “I’m just glad he ended up where he wanted to be and we’re going to go with it and we’re going to keep praying he can he have a good career and good journey up at Iowa.

How Iowa won out

The On3 Industry tabs the 6-foot-3, 265-pound Epenesa as the nation’s No. 3 defensive lineman and No. 35 prospect overall. He is the No. 1 prospect in Illinois.

Epenesa becomes commit No. 13 for the Hawkeyes in the class of 2025.

“It just came down to where he feels comfortable and what he knows about it,” Eppy explained. “He’s been around a lot of these folks. A lot of these guys up here are my teammates. Some of these coaches have been around me for a long time. He feels good about it and his dream is to get a chance to play college football with his brother (Eric). That’s the main thing to make his final decision. That’s part of it. He just loved the position coach (Kelvin Bell) at Iowa. He feels comfortable playing for coach Kelvin Bell and he feels comfortable playing for Kirk. Of course he loves (defensive coordinator Phil (Parker). He’s been around Coach Parker for a long time since his older brother has been around. I walked around there with my kids when they were young and they knew of my kids and they understand about my family.

“I think he’s made that decision based on all those amazing things about them,” Eppy continued. “We’re excited about our son and excited about his decision and look forward to going back to Hawkeye Nation the next four or five years.”

Big surprise on the official visit

Epenesa took his official visit to Iowa City the second weekend of June. As the blue-chip Epenesa and his parents sat down for lunch with Kirk Ferentz and the entire staff, Iose’s older brother AJ walked in. 

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

Eppy played at Iowa, AJ starred at Iowa and just signed a contract extension this off-season with the Buffalo Bills. Iose’s middle brother Eric is a linebacker for the Hawkeyes.

“My wife knew about it,” Eppy continued. “Me and Iose didn’t know AJ was going to come. It was emotional in a way. He told Iose ‘I’m not here to take attention away from you. I’m here to love on you and support you and let you know Kirk (Ferentz) and Coach (Kelvin) Bell are two of the best human-beings I’ve ever dealt with.’

“Of course my son Eric showed up at the same time too. He’s on the team and nothing but impressive things Eric was talking about with Coach Ferentz and his position coach and of course the strength coach at Iowa.”

Iowa is battling Miami, Missouri, Penn State and Utah among others for Epenesa who the On3 Industry ranks as the nation’s No. 3 edge and No. 38 prospect overall.

“It was such a great moment with me as a Hawkeye and a dad,” Eppy said. “I’ve tried so hard to separate the dad and the Hawkeye deal in a way but it was kind of hard.”

Epenesa was the only football prospect on campus this weekend for the Hawkeyes staff.

“It was also legacy weekend,” Eppy said. “A lot of alumni in the house at the same time.”

Being the only recruit, Ferentz and company were able to pour into the Epenesas.

“It was super special,” Eppy said. “We got to sit down and talk to Kirk and the staff that is going to handle him.”

Iose has been to Iowa many times, but this was really his first in-depth experience as a recruit.

“Face to face talking to the people that run the defense and talking to people that run the d-line and the weight room and whole program and of course talking to Coach Ferentz,” Eppy explained. “It was a beautiful thing to experience.

“They talked to Iose about what they could bring. 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.”