4-star EDGE Iose Epenesa narrows list to 10 schools

Edwardsville (Ill.) High four-star EDGE Iose Epenesa is locking in official visits and ready to begin taking the next steps in his recruitment.

A big part of that is cutting down the list of schools he’s interested in, which he did on Sunday, with his father telling On3’s Steve Wiltong that Iose will now consider Oregon, Illinois, Utah, Michigan, Miami, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Penn State and Texas.

Those 10 schools will be in contention for official visits, with three trips already locked in.

Missouri will host Epenesa the weekend of June 1, while Iowa (June 8) and Miami (June 22) will get their shots later in the month.

Epenesa is the brother of former Iowa star and current Buffalo Bills defensive lineman A.J. Epenesa, and the Hawkeyes will be a tough out in his recruitment. His father and other brother Eric also played in Iowa City.

Missouri’s staff under Eli Drinkwitz has been recruiting him as long as anyone, and the Tigers would love to add him to a defensive line haul that already includes St. Louis-area mauler Jason Dowell, who hails from nearby Belleville (Ill.) Althoff.

Hurricanes one to watch for Iose Epenesa

Despite being one of the furthest programs from home, Miami is one of the top contenders for Epenesa, who was back in Coral Gables at the end of March.

It was an insightful visit for Epenesa.

“Iose got to watch a full-pads scrimmage, good action practice,” Epenesa’s father Eppy told Wiltfong. “Sat down film session with NFL Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor and Polynesian Hall of Fame defensive line coach Joe Salave’a learning their schemes/defensive line DL break down and where he fits.

The family also has a strong personal connection to Salave’a.

“It comes down to trust and experience in the coaches,” Eppy said. “Mario Cristobal is a legend. Defensive ends coach Jason Taylor is a NFL football Hall of Fame. DL coach Joe Salave’a is an NFL vet and Polynesian Hall of Famer and is like a little brother to me. We grew up together in America Samoa.”

The 6-foot-4, 245-pounder is the No. 50 overall prospect and No. 5 EDGE in the 2025 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.