FSU kicks off Signing Day with last-minute addition: Former Auburn OT commit Nikau Hepi
Florida State started signing day with a bang, announcing the signing of a new addition to the class in international offensive tackle Nikau Hepai.
Hepai decommitted from Auburn on Tuesday following the hiring of new head coach Alex Golesh.
“FSU is where I see my development skyrocketing and really getting the best help I need to be the best I can,” Hepi told Warchant of his decision.
Hepi is not a totally new name to Florida State recruiting. He visited the Seminoles over the summer with the NFL Academy, an international team created to grow the game overseas. It was a very quick visit at the time. According to Rivals, that trip to FSU was the only other visit he took that wasn’t to Auburn over his recruitment.
“FSU was in contact within the same hour that I’d decommitted from Auburn,” the massive offensive lineman said. “When Auburn didn’t work out, I definitely had FSU in the front of my mind.”
Hepi originally hails from New Zealand and grew up playing rugby before switching over to American football about a year ago, once he was recruited by the NFL Academy Asian-Pacific.
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The new Seminole brings a great deal of size to the Florida State line; he is listed at 6-foot-7.5 and 370 pounds.
Here is more from Hepi on his Florida State signing:
On FSU OL coach Herb Hand: “Coach Hand has been nothing but real and honest with me as a recruit. Told me what he wants out of me and how he sees my future planning out.”
On Florida State head coach Mike Norvell: “Coach Norvell is different for real. He’s got that energy you need from a coach to make you wake up in the morning and give 100 percent every day.”
Click here for Live Updates on FSU’s latest additions on National Signing Day!
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