Top 10 Illinois defensive players for 2024 HS football season
1. Iose Epenesa, Sr., Edwardsville
Despite the abundance of elite talent on this list, Epenesa is the clear-cut top defensive player in Illinois. He is also the top-ranked senior in the Prairie State and is rated as a by multiple recruiting services. Across three seasons at Edwardsville, Epenesa has made 122 tackles and 15 sacks. Last season, the 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive lineman racked up 31 tackles, eight tackles for loss and six sacks as the Tigers won 10 games. Epenesa, who has also competed in track and played basketball at Edwardsville, is a physical player on the defensive line and a gifted athlete at his size. Following his high school career, he will take his talents to a program known for its defense, Iowa, as he follows in the footsteps of his older brother, former Hawkeyes standout and current Buffalo Bills linebacker, AJ Epenesa.
This is 猸愶笍猸愶笍猸愶笍猸愶笍猸愶笍 Iose Epenesa鈥檚 junior year highlights. He鈥檚 the 3rd Ranked DL in the entire 2025 class. Officially visited Utah this last weekend. What would you do if Epenesa commits to Utah?
— D.B cUTEpper (@DB_cUTEpper)
