116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
No pressure on Iowa football’s top 2025 recruit to see immediate playing time
Because the Hawkeyes have a number of quality experienced players on the defensive line, freshman five-star end Iose Epenesa may not see the field much
Aug. 19, 2025 4:10 pm
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Editor’s note: Fifth in a 9-part series looking at the Iowa football team ahead of the season opener on Aug. 30.
IOWA CITY - Iowa’s football program doesn’t get many five-star recruits or recruits that are borderline five stars.
When the Hawkeyes do pick up one of those guys, you figure he’s going to play right away. Make an impact right away.
But that might not be the case with Iose Epenesa.
The freshman from Glen Carbon, Ill., just outside St. Louis, has the luxury of developing at his own pace because Iowa has a plethora of options on its defensive line going into the 2025 season. The Hawkeyes’ opener is Aug. 30 at Kinnick Stadium against Albany.
Aaron Graves is a preseason all-American at tackle, Ethan Hurkett and Max Llewellyn experienced ends, as is Brian Allen. Iowa signed defensive line transfers Jonah Pace (Central Michigan) and Bryce Hawthorne (South Dakota State) for tackle possibilities.
Jeremiah Pittman is working back from injury and has playing experience at tackle.
So there really is no pressure on Epenesa. He won’t be forced onto the field before he’s ready, as older brother A.J. probably was when he first came to Iowa in 2017.
A.J. Epenesa, of course, plays for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.
“That’s a tall task for (Iose),” Iowa defensive line coach Kelvin Bell said at Iowa’s recent media day. “I don’t want to knock anybody in the room back when A.J. got here in 2017, but, yes, there were less proven (players) then, you know what I mean?”
“There’s going to be competition. Everyone is a Big Ten player. So I just look to improve and get better every day,” Epenesa said. “I have a couple of seniors in front of me on the D-line, so I just try to hang on them and learn as much as I can from those guys.”
Iose Epenesa is a Hawkeye legacy player. A.J. and middle brother Eric played for Iowa, as did the boys’ father Eppy, back in the Hayden Fry era.
Everyone wanted Iose, a 6-foot-3, 260-pounder who set his high school’s career record for sacks, topping his NFL brother. Iowa always was going to be in the mix, but this was no slam dunk recruitment.
Iose will tell you that.
“At first, I didn’t want to actually follow everyone, (wanted) to make my own path,” he said. “But eventually I learned that I can make my own path at Iowa. It’s like a second home for us. It’s best for the family. It’s only four hours from my home, and so I’m able to go back and forth.
“It’s just a honor, to be honest, to be able to wear this uniform. To be able to play at this level.”
Bell said there’s no question about Epenesa’s ability, something that was evident right away in fall practice.
“Freshmen typically don’t do much the first couple of days. They watch and try and figure it out,” he said. “But when you get him out there, you see some natural ability. He’s got strong hands, he’s quick. Dad, A.J., his other brother Eric, they’re very familiar with football, well schooled, and that’s always a huge get because you don’t have to teach kids how to get into a stance.”
Still, Bell can’t commit to confirming at this point that Epenesa will get playing time this season. Or if so, how much.
Once again, that’s not a bad thing because it shows Iowa has dudes on the D line.
“For him to get on the field like A.J., I don’t know. I can’t say,” Bell said. “I am excited about his development. He has looked really good here the last three days, and, you know, we’ll just keep going and see how this thing goes.”
Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said at media day he likes the defensive line group as a whole, thinks it potentially has some depth. Considering the inexperience at linebacker going into this season, that line will be counted upon pretty heavily early, you would think.
“I like the competition we're seeing,” Ferentz said. “Unfortunately Pittman is not working, Jeremiah, still out. He's probably a couple weeks away from being back. It has given other guys an opportunity to work. Both Pace and Hawthorne are doing a good job in there, and (junior) Will (Hubert) has done a good job. Those guys are competing. They're improving. I think we'll be OK there. But we're not there yet.”
Comments: (319)-398-8258, jeff.johnson@thegazette.com
Daily Newsletters