Auburn Secures Historic Commitment from New Zealand OL Nikau Hepi

Nikau Hepi, a 6-foot-7 offensive lineman from New Zealand, has made history by becoming the first player developed by the NFL Academy Asia-Pacific to commit to a U.S. college, choosing Auburn University over Florida State. Despite having only six months of American football experience and a background in rugby, Hepi earned multiple Division I offers and is ranked as a three-star prospect, positioned No. 852 overall and No. 72 among offensive tackles in the 2026 class. Auburn views Hepi's commitment as a significant milestone in expanding their international recruiting footprint and a boost to their 2026 class, which currently has six commitments but trails peers in overall recruiting. Hepi praised Auburn for being the first to believe in his potential despite his limited football experience, highlighting the coaching and development opportunities at the program. Auburn plans to intensify recruiting efforts ahead of the Early Signing Period in December to strengthen their class further. Hepi’s swift development and commitment reflect the growing impact of the NFL Academy Asia-Pacific in producing college football talent from non-traditional regions.