After a recent slew of decommitments and a downward trend for Auburn recruiting, the Tigers got some good news on Tuesday when 3-star offensive lineman Nikau Hepi, from New Zealand, announced his commitment to Auburn football. He is the first student athlete from the NFL Academy Asia-Pacific campus to commit to an American college.
Hepi joined the NFL Academy, which helps international players get recruited by U.S. colleges, and the Tigers sent out an offer after seeing his highlight tape despite the fact that Hepi had never actually played a real snap of American football. Still, at 6-foot-7 and 370 pounds, Hepi is ranked as the No. 66 offensive tackle in the recruiting class of 2026, according to 247 Sports, and could be a big (literally) pick up for the Tigers.
The OT attended camp in Auburn over the summer after earning his offer, and also attended camps at Kennesaw State and Mercer. He unofficially visited Florida State, the other big program from which he received an offer, but ultimately chose to stick with head coach Hugh Freeze and the Tigers.
"Auburn being the first to reach out to an international player who's only played the game for six months, not even played a snap in a real football game, it's definitely a big step for them," Hepi told Auburn Undercover after camp. "Taking that initiative and believing in me and seeing what I can do. Getting me out here, it's been a great time. Auburn, it's a different kind of place here. I like it here a lot."
Hepi is the second offensive line commit in Auburn football's recruiting class of 2026 alongside 3-star IOL Parker Pritchett from Columbus, Georgia, who committed to the Tigers back in April.