Iowa Recruiting: Iose Epenesa will command impressive NIL value

No matter how poor the rankings may reflect the Iowa Hawkeyes 2025 recruiting class, in many ways, it won't matter if Kirk Ferentz and his staff can land Illinois edge rusher Iose Epenesa.

Epenesa is a legacy player whose dad and brothers played for the Hawkeyes. Fittingly, he's the top prospect on the Hawkeyes recruiting board this year.

While Iowa fans would love to hear Epenesa announce his commitment to the Hawkeyes, there is no timetable on his commitment just yet. According to On3, however, the Hawkeyes are currently in the lead to get him, though Miami and Missouri prove to be strong suitors as well.

Of course, On3 also details the NIL value of many college athletes, and Epenesa is no exception.

On3 broke down how much the top edge rushers in the 2025 class will be looking to make, taking into account the roster value each player brings to their team and their own NIL value.

For the top 5 edge rushers, On3 suggests that the top edge defenders, which includes Epenesa, will average an NIL value of $240k.

Epenesa himself is valued at $206k on his On3 player profile page. That value could increase if or when On3 gives him a 5-star rating.

Epenesa is a 5-star in the eyes of 247Sports, ranking him as the No. 15 overall player in the class and the sixth-best defensive lineman.

The 6-foot-4, 270-pound pass rusher has been praised as the best athlete among the Epenesa brothers by the eldest of the bunch, AJ, who currently plays for the Buffalo Bills. Iose has 12 sacks in his high school career and has also been featured as a tight end and contributed impressively for the track and field team.

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