Iose Epenesa

Last updated
Iose Epenesa
Iowa HawkeyesNo. 97
Position Defensive end
ClassFreshman
Major Exercise Science
Personal information
Born: (2007-02-05) February 5, 2007 (age 18)
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight260 lb (118 kg)
Career history
College
  • Iowa (2025–present)
High school Edwardsville
(Edwardsville, Illinois)
Career highlights and awards

Iose Epenesa (YO-say) (born February 5, 2007) is an American football defensive end for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Contents

Early life and high school

Epenesa grew up in Edwardsville, Illinois and attended Edwardsville High School, where he played football, basketball, and was on the track and field team. [1] [2] He holds the school record in shot-put and is second in the discus throw, behind his brother A.J. Epenesa. [3] As a junior Epenesa, he had 46 tackles, seven sacks, ten tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles as a junior. [4] He was selected to play in the 2025 All-American Bowl. [5]

Epenesa was rated a five-star recruit by 247Sports . [6] He committed to play college football at Iowa over offers from Penn State, Miami, and Utah. [7]

College career

Epenesa enrolled at Iowa on June 1, 2025. [8]

Personal life

Epenesa's older brother, A. J., played defensive end at Iowa and currently plays in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills. [9] Another brother, Eric, is a linebacker at Iowa. [10] Epenesa's father also played defensive line at Iowa. [11]

References

  1. Kamp, Matthew (July 16, 2024). "Iose Epenesa weighing future before start of senior season". Edwardsville Intelligencer . Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  2. "Who is Edwardsville High School star Iose Epenesa?". Edwardsville Intelligencer . July 9, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  3. "Iose Epenesa closer to AJ's record with new discus PR". Edwardsville Intelligencer . April 27, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  4. "Edwardsville's Iose Epenesa: 'I grew up an Iowa boy'". Edwardsville Intelligencer . August 17, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  5. Ramos, Gus (August 19, 2024). "2025 All-American Iose Epenesa Commits to Iowa". NBC Sports . Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  6. "Edwardsville's Iose Epenesa is a 5-star athlete, 5-star person". St. Louis Post-Dispatch . August 29, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  7. Lederman, Eli (August 15, 2024). "Iose Epenesa, top defensive end in 2025 class, commits to Iowa". ESPN.com . Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  8. "Iose Epenesa, Iowa Hawkeyes, Edge". 247Sports. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
  9. Kamp, Matt (April 24, 2024). "Four-star recruit Iose Epenesa narrows college list to 10". The Telegraph . Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  10. Dochterman, Scott (August 15, 2024). "Five-star DE Iose Epenesa commits to Iowa: What Hawkeyes legacy's pledge means for 2025". The Athletic . Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  11. "Family tradition; Iose Epenesa commits to Iowa". The Telegraph . August 16, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.