logo
Auburn target Adam Bologoun-Ali changes commitment date

Auburn target Adam Bologoun-Ali changes commitment date

USA Today3 days ago
The four-star Florida linebacker shared on social media that he needs two more days to make his college decision.
Auburn football is in a great position to land a talented linebacker from Florida. However, Auburn fans will need to wait an extra two days to learn if he will be a Tiger.
Adam Balogoun-Ali, a four-star linebacker from West Palm Beach, Florida, shared on social media Wednesday that he will now commit on July 8, two days after his original commitment date of July 6. Auburn, along with SEC rivals Missouri and Kentucky, are in the mix to land the commitment of the top-30 linebacker.
Last month, Jeffrey Lee of Auburn Live submitted a prediction that favored Auburn landing Balogoun-Ali, which would be massive for a program that has fallen over 60 spots in 2026 recruiting after losing several blue-chip players to other programs. Balogoun-Ali shares that defensive coordinator DJ Durkin is the biggest factor in Auburn remaining in his final three.
'Coach Durkin is great,' Balogoun-Ali said. 'He is a genuine dude, and someone I listen to and believe in. His main message to me is that I am the main guy that he wants. He has to recruit others because I am taking visits, but if I committed, he tells me he would shut down the recruitment of others.'
Auburn ranks No. 89 in 247Sports' 2026 recruiting rankings, with zero linebacker commits. Should Balogoun-Ali commit to Auburn, he would join EDGE Hezekiah Harris and QB Peyton Falzone as a four-star commitment in Auburn's 2026 haul.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Three rising SEC powers that could earn College Football Playoff bid in 2025
Three rising SEC powers that could earn College Football Playoff bid in 2025

USA Today

time2 hours ago

  • USA Today

Three rising SEC powers that could earn College Football Playoff bid in 2025

In the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoffs last year, the Southeastern Conference had three teams vying for a spot in the national championship game. Tennessee joined Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Texas and Oklahoma as the only current SEC programs to reach the CFP since its inception during the 2014-2015 season. That could change in 2025, as several contenders are building strong rosters in preparation for this year's campaign. As the SEC officially opens the regular season in 54 days, when Missouri takes on Central Arkansas, teams across the league will attempt to claw through the brutal conference slate to make their first CFP appearance. Here are the SEC teams that could finish atop the league and earn a bid to this year's playoffs: 1. Texas A&M With quarterback Marcel Reed returning for his sophomore season, Texas A&M is positioned to make noise in the program's second year under head coach Mike Elko. To combat the loss of production at wide receiver, Elko landed talented transfers like former NC State wideout KC Concepcion. The former ACC Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year was ranked as the No. 6 wide receiver in the transfer portal by 247 Sports. Additional commits such as former Mississippi State wideout Mario Craver and the return of running backs Le'Veon Moss and Rueben Owens II will provide Elko's offense with electric playmakers in 2025. The defense is nothing to glance over either, as multiple standout transfers like defensive backs Jordan Shaw (Washington) and Julian Humphrey (Georgia) add tremendously to the Aggies' defensive unit. Texas A&M's schedule is also considerably favorable, besides the three important road tests at Notre Dame, LSU and Texas. If Elko and company can steal one of those difficult road games, the program will be in the race for a potential bid into the CFP this season. 2. South Carolina South Carolina is one of the most underrated teams in the country this season. The Gamecocks return a talented gunslinger in quarterback LaNorris Sellers for his sophomore campaign, after securing the SEC Freshman of the Year (coaches) award and the FWAA (Football Writers Association of America) National Freshman Offensive Player of the Year in 2024. As one of the most feared EDGE rushers in the country, Dylan Stewart's dominance on the gridiron for South Carolina has garnered much attention from NFL scouts. Pro Football Focus projects him to become a top-five pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, as he continues to wreak havoc against opposing offenses. While the stars are aligning for South Carolina's roster this season, the offensive line will need to step up and stay healthy in the upcoming year to protect Sellers, which should keep the defense off the field and give Stewart time to do what he does best. The schedule is brutal for the Gamecocks in 2025, with contests against LSU, Ole Miss, Alabama, Texas A&M and Clemson, but the program in Columbia, S.C., could shock the country with multiple upsets. If head coach Shane Beamer can lead his teams to nine wins with a strength of schedule ranked No. 7 per On3 Sports, it is going to be difficult not to put the program in contention for an at-large bid. 3. Ole Miss Rebels Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels have been so close to making the CFP in recent years, but continue to fall just short of obtaining a bid. The program has struggled during the big moments, but this year could be a different story. After putting on a showcase in the Rebels' 28-10 victory over the Georgia Bulldogs in 2024, sophomore signal-caller Austin Simmons will take the snaps for Kiffin's fast-tempo offense heading into this year's campaign. Simmons has a cannon for an arm and has displayed true poise in moments where he stepped in for Jaxson Dart last season. Heading into the offseason, the program lost much production on both sides of the ball, but the man known as the master of the transfer portal worked his magic to bring in the No. 3 transfer class in the country, according to On3 Sports. The return of leaders like linebacker Suntarine Perkins and wideout Cayden Lee will be integral this season, as the Rebs travel to Georgia and Oklahoma. However, the schedule is mighty favorable if all the pieces come together like most predict. Ole Miss fans have been anxiously awaiting the moment that Kiffin brings home a national title to Oxford, Miss., but the time for waiting could finally be over in 2025. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.

Davis Thompson makes late birdie to break out of a logjam and lead John Deere Classic
Davis Thompson makes late birdie to break out of a logjam and lead John Deere Classic

NBC Sports

time3 hours ago

  • NBC Sports

Davis Thompson makes late birdie to break out of a logjam and lead John Deere Classic

Davis Thompson was "laser-focused" on moving day at the John Deere Classic, where he aims to secure his repeat win at the tournament on Sunday with Max Homa and others close behind. SILVIS, Ill. – Davis Thompson made a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole Saturday to break out of a logjam that at one point featured 10 players tied for the lead, giving him a 4-under 67 on a much tougher golf course and a one-shot lead in the John Deere Classic. Thompson was among five players tied for the lead when he stood over his final putt, after Brian Campbell had just holed a 30-foot birdie putt. His final birdie put him at 15-under 198, one shot ahead of Campbell, Max Homa, Emiliano Grillo and David Lipsky, each of whom had a 68. About the only player not in the mix was 36-hole leader Doug Ghim, who played his last 10 holes with two bogeys and no birdies and shot 74, pushing him outside the top 20. Thompson had a birdie-birdie finish, though he missed an 8-foot eagle attempt on the par-5 17th hole. He will try to become the first player to win back-to-back at the John Deere Classic since Steve Stricker won three in a row from 2009 through 2011. Also at stake for Thompson is a chance to get into the British Open, as a victory would move him to the top of the alternate list determined by the next world ranking. But the final 18 holes feels a lot longer off considering how many players are very much in the mix going into Sunday. 'Nice to have some momentum going into tomorrow,' Thompson said. Camilo Villegas (69) and Austin Eckroat (67) were among four players three shots behind. Matt Kuchar (67) and Auburn junior Jackson Koivun were in the group four back. Thirteen players were within four shots of the lead. Of the top 14 players, only Lipsky, Koivun and Kevin Roy have yet to win on the PGA Tour. Homa is the most proven of the lot, though he has been trying to pull himself out of a deep slump that has left him on the outside of just trying to make the PGA Tour playoffs this year. Homa was steady again, even after one of his rare misses. He was some 40 yards left of the green at the par-5 10th, even going across the road, but managed to escape with par and then took advantage of the scoring holes on the back nine for his 68. Homa last won on the PGA Tour in January 2023 at Torrey Pines. He has been under scrutiny this year for his poor form - more than a year since his last top 10 - while changing coaches, equipment and twice changing caddies. 'Golf has just been very boring for me this year. I haven't had a whole lot of stress, and you want to be stressed out. So I look forward to the butterflies in the morning; I look forward to the first tee shot,' Homa said. 'It's just nice to get to feel that again. It's been a while.' This was not the same TPC Deere Run that yielded low scores over the opening two rounds. The starting times were moved up to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, and hot weather and wind combined to make the greens firmer and fasters. Plus, several of the pins were tucked along the edges, punishing misses on the wrong side. No one shot lower than 66 in the third round. There were 28 scores of 65 or better over the opening two rounds. 'Certainly makes for a fun Sunday when a bunch of guys have a chance,' Kuchar said. One of them is Koivun, still four shots back but with a chance to make it two years in a row with an amateur winning on the PGA Tour. Nick Dunlap won The American Express last year in January and left Alabama to turn pro, having $20 million signature events to play. Koivun already is assured a PGA Tour card through the PGA Tour University accelerated program, but is deferring that to return to Auburn. 'It's obviously very inspiring to see what he did about a year ago now,' Koivun said. 'Obviously, to be one of the few (amateurs) to win a professional event would be great. At the end of the day I just got to go give it my best shot and be happy with the result.' --- AP golf:

Davis Thompson makes late birdie to break out of a logjam and lead PGA John Deere Classic
Davis Thompson makes late birdie to break out of a logjam and lead PGA John Deere Classic

Boston Globe

time3 hours ago

  • Boston Globe

Davis Thompson makes late birdie to break out of a logjam and lead PGA John Deere Classic

About the only player not in the mix was 36-hole leader Doug Ghim, who played his last 10 holes with two bogeys and no birdies and shot 74, pushing him outside the top 20. Advertisement Thompson had a birdie-birdie finish, though he missed an 8-foot eagle attempt on the par-5 17th hole. He will try to become the first player to win back-to-back at the John Deere Classic since Steve Stricker won three in a row from 2009 through 2011. Also at stake for Thompson is a chance to get into the British Open, as a victory would move him to the top of the alternate list determined by the next world ranking. But the final 18 holes feels a lot longer off considering how many players are very much in the mix going into Sunday. 'Nice to have some momentum going into tomorrow,' Thompson said. Camilo Villegas (69) and Austin Eckroat (67) were among four players three shots behind. Matt Kuchar (67) and Auburn junior Jackson Koivun were in the group four back. Thirteen players were within four shots of the lead. Advertisement Of the top 14 players, only Lipsky, Koivun, and Kevin Roy have yet to win on the PGA Tour. Homa is the most proven of the lot, though he has been trying to pull himself out of a deep slump that has left him on the outside of just trying to make the PGA Tour playoffs this year. Homa was steady again, even after one of his rare misses. He was some 40 yards left of the green at the par-5 10th, even going across the road, but managed to escape with par and then took advantage of the scoring holes on the back nine for his 68. Homa last won on the PGA Tour in January 2023 at Torrey Pines. He has been under scrutiny this year for his poor form — more than a year since his last top 10 — while changing coaches, equipment and twice changing caddies. 'Golf has just been very boring for me this year. I haven't had a whole lot of stress, and you want to be stressed out. So I look forward to the butterflies in the morning; I look forward to the first tee shot,' Homa said. 'It's just nice to get to feel that again. It's been a while.' This was not the same TPC Deere Run that yielded low scores over the opening two rounds. The starting times were moved up to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, and hot weather and wind combined to make the greens firmer and fasters. Plus, several of the pins were tucked along the edges, punishing misses on the wrong side. Advertisement No one shot lower than 66 in the third round. There were 28 scores of 65 or better over the opening two rounds. 'Certainly makes for a fun Sunday when a bunch of guys have a chance,' Kuchar said. One of them is Koivun, still four shots back but with a chance to make it two years in a row with an amateur winning on the PGA Tour. Nick Dunlap won The American Express last year in January and left Alabama to turn pro, having $20 million signature events to play. Koivun already is assured a PGA Tour card through the PGA Tour University accelerated program, but is deferring that to return to Auburn. 'It's obviously very inspiring to see what he did about a year ago now,' Koivun said. 'Obviously, to be one of the few (amateurs) to win a professional event would be great. At the end of the day I just got to go give it my best shot and be happy with the result.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store