Iowa won its biggest recruiting battle in the 2025 class recently when it earned a commitment from five-star defensive end Iose Epenesa.
The 6-foot-4, 270 pound defensive end chose Iowa over fellow finalists Miami and Utah.
Of course, Epenesa is a legacy pledge for the Hawkeyes. That factor only added to the importance in many minds for Iowa to land Epenesa.
Sure enough, the Hawkeyes did just that.
Now, as 247Sports continues its coverage and evaluation of the 2025 recruiting class, it has released its 2025 Freaks List.
Naturally, Epenesa is right there in the thick of those rankings from 247Sports as well. 247Sports’ Andrew Ivins ranked Epenesa as the nation’s No. 27 player on the 2025 Freaks List.
It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that legendary Hawkeye A.J. Epenesa‘s brother made the list. Iose Epenesa is one of the most accomplished throwers in the class with his personal best of 189-foot-10 in the discus ranking third amongst all the blue-chippers.
The younger Epenesa isn’t as tall as his older sibling, but he has a chance to be even more powerful. When Iose isn’t competing with the Edwardsville track and field team or patrolling the paint for the basketball team, he’s usually working out with his family’s personal trainer, Mark Slaughter. That means sled pulls on the hot pavement and large sets of t-bar clean and presses.
Epenesa, who holds five-star status on 247Sports, should only add more brute strength once he joins an Iowa program known for its player development. – Ivins, 247Sports.
The Iowa strength and conditioning program should indeed only continue to work wonders for Epenesa.
Epenesa is ranked as the nation’s No. 16 player overall, as the No. 3 defensive lineman and as the No. 1 player from Illinois per 247Sports.
Epenesa has registered 122 tackles, 15 sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery over three seasons with the Edwardsville Tigers. As a junior in 2023, Epenesa had 46 tackles, including seven sacks and 10 for loss, and three forced fumbles.
Epenesa’s father, Eppy Epenesa, and his two older brothers, A.J. and Eric Epenesa, all played for the Hawkeyes. Eric Epenesa is a junior linebacker on the Hawkeyes’ 2024 squad, while A.J. Epenesa was a second-round selection by the Buffalo Bills in the 2020 NFL draft. A.J. Epenesa just signed a new two-year, $12 million contract with the Bills back in March.
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