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AUBURN — While Auburn football has struggled on the recruiting trail in recent days, it’s heading into the final week of June on a high note, as Nikau Hepi — a three-star offensive lineman from New Zealand — committed to Hugh Freeze and the Tigers on Tuesday.
Hepi’s commitment is groundbreaking in one sense. He’s the first-ever player from NFL Academy, which began in 2019, to commit to a U.S. college. He’s also a much-needed pledge in Auburn’s 2026 class, which has lost three commitments this month.
Auburn Bound – History made! 🙌
Nikau Hepi becomes the first-ever student-athlete from the NFL Academy Asia-Pacific campus to commit to a U.S. college.
A monumental moment for both Nikau and the Academy! Congratulations Nikau! pic.twitter.com/HyGi2YMFKg
— NFL Academy (@NFLAcademy) June 24, 2025
Listed at 6-foot-7 and 370 pounds, Hepi visited Auburn earlier this summer, and the program also gave him his first college offer. His only other Power Four offer came from Florida State.
According to 247Sports’ composite ratings, Hepi is the fourth-best player in Auburn’s 2026 class, which is now up to six commitments.
Here’s a look at how he stacks up in Auburn’s 2026 class.
Who’s in Auburn football’s 2026 recruiting class?
Players listed by 247Sports composite ratings
EDGE Hezekiah Harris (4 Stars)No. 93 nationally; No. 12 EDGE; No. 7 ALWR Denairius Gray (4 Stars)No. 268; No. 44 WR; No. 41 FLIOL Parker Pritchett (3 Stars)No. 435; No. 40 OL; No. 50 GAOL Nikau Hepi (3 Stars)No. 852; No. 72 OL; No. 1 NZS Wayne Henry (3 Stars)No. 911; No. 76 S; No. 19 MDRB Eric Perry (3 Stars)No. 1,044; No. 77 RB; No. 33 MS
Adam Cole is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at acole@gannett.com or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @colereporter.To support Adam’s work, please subscribe to the…
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Publish date : 2025-06-24 22:37:00
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