With a June 22 visit to Coral Gables, the Miami football team is ranked as the second favorite behind Iowa for four-star defensive tackle Iose Epenesa of Edwardsville, Illinois. Epenesa is a heritage from Iowa. In 2018 and 2019, A.J., Epenesa’s brother, made the first team of the Big 10.
According to a post on X by his father Eppy, Epenesa has arranged five formal visits, Miami being the final one. The weekend of May 18 marks Penn State’s formal visit from Epenesa, which will be followed by official visits from Missouri on June 1st, Iowa on June 8th, Utah on June 15th, and Miami on June 18th.
Epenesa has the potential to be a five-star prospect soon. According to 247Sports, Epenesa is ranked 37th overall, sixth on the DL, and the second-best player in Illinois for the 2025 class. For the second year in a row, Miami is about to travel to Illinois and add a top defensive lineman from the Land of Lincoln.
Miami signed edge rusher Marquise Lightfoot and tackle Justin Scott, the top two Illinois defensive linemen in the 2024 class. Scott and Lightfoot were both five-star recruits. Edwardsville is located across the Mississippi River from St. Louis on the Illinois side. Scott and Lightfoot are from Chicago.
Elijah Melendez, a four-star linebacker, is the only defensive commit for Miami in 2025. The best 2024 DL class would benefit greatly from Epenesa’s inclusion. Miami also added a number of elite edge rushers and five-star versatile defensive lineman Armondo Blount. Brock Schott, a four-star tight end, is presently the top-ranked 2024 Miami commit.
With a 32.2 percent likelihood of receiving a commitment from Epenesa, Iowa is regarded as the favorite. Missouri comes in third with 14.0%, followed by Miami in second place at 20.3%. Not a single person exceeds 9.0 percent. Epenesa has visited Miami on unofficial occasions in the past. Epenesa’s most recent trip to Miami took place in March.
