Queensland, New Zealand native and <a href="https://www.on3.com/high-school/null-27381/">NFL Academy</a> three-star offensive tackle prospect <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/nikau-hepi-249621/">Nikau Hepi</a> has announced his decommitment from <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/auburn-tigers/">Auburn</a>.



His decision comes one day after the Tigers hired new head coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/alex-golesh-132142/">Alex Golesh</a> from USF. Hepi is the third recruit to leave Auburn’s recruiting class on Monday.



The 6-foot-7.5, 370-pounder <a href="https://x.com/nikaunflacademy/status/1995605656431460486?s=20">announced his decision</a> via social media:



“I wanna thank Auburn football and their staff for their recruitment. After careful consideration I have decided to decommit from Auburn due to the coaching change,” he wrote. “I’m looking forward to finding the best school and coaches for my development. I will be re-opening my recruitment.”



Hepi is the No. 728 overall prospect and No. 52 OT in the 2026 cycle, according to the <a href="https://www.on3.com/db/rankings/industry-player/football/2026/">Rivals Industry Ranking</a>, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies.



Auburn retained its class in the immediate aftermath of head coach <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/hugh-freeze-134705/">Hugh Freeze’s</a> firing in October. Hepi was one of the many who told Rivals that he was still excited for the future on The Plains. With Golesh and a new staff ushering in a new era, though, some are now headed elsewhere.



“It’s definitely tough seeing coach Freeze go,” <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/news/auburn-commits-react-to-the-dismissal-of-hugh-freeze/">Hepi told Rivals</a>. “He’s a great person and someone I’ve got a lot of respect for, so yeah, it’s sad in that way. But at the same time, I know what me and the other commits bring to the table. The future’s still bright at Auburn. The possibilities are real, and I’m keeping faith in what’s being built there.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-who-s-still-committed-to-auburn">Who’s still committed to Auburn?</h2>



Ahead of National Signing Day, the answer to that question is changing rapidly. Elite four-star safety <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/bralan-womack-235910/">Bralan Womack</a>, a top-40 overall prospect, flipped to Mississippi State on Monday, while Hepi and four-star quarterback <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/peyton-falzone-242813/">Peyton Falzone</a> have both decommitted.



Not long after Hepi and Falzone left the class, though, Golesh did land his first commitment at AU. Semmes (Ala.) Mary G. Montgomery three-star tight end <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/damarcus-broughton-259866/">Damarcus Broughton</a> decommitted from USF on Sunday and is now in the fold for the Tigers.



Broughton is the No. 84 tight end and No. 51 recruit in Alabama in the 2026 cycle. The Auburn class is now back up to 11 commitments. Rivals five-star wide receiver <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/jase-mathews-236322/">Jase Mathews</a>, four-star EDGE <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/jaquez-wilkes-237991/">Jaquez Wilkes</a>, four-star linebacker <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/shadarius-toodle-154995/">Shadarius Toodle</a> and four-star offensive tackle <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/wilson-zierer-249303/">Wilson Zierer</a> are the lone blue-chippers still in the class to date.



The ever-changing Auburn class <a href="https://www.on3.com/college/auburn-tigers/football/2026/industry-comparison-commits/">can be seen here</a>.

Nikau Hepi 3.jpg

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