Latest news with #Balogoun-Ali
USA Today
09-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Auburn football lands three-star LB Adam Balogoun-Ali to its 2026 haul
Auburn won the race between SEC rivals Kentucky and Missouri for the Florida linebacker. The Auburn Tigers picked up a three-star recruit on Tuesday to help bolster their 2026 recruiting rankings. Linebacker Adam Balogoun-Ali committed to the Tigers Tuesday afternoon, choosing Auburn over Kentucky and Missouri. Per Nathan King of 247Sports, Balogoun-Ali visited the Tigers during Big Cat weekend in April. He is the eighth commitment for the Tigers for the 2026 class that is ranked No. 78 nationally. Auburn has needed some good news lately, with the talks of head coach Hugh Freeze frequently playing golf and players flipping their commitment to play for the Tigers. Some would believe the two are connected. Balogoun-Ali attends Cardinal Newman in West Palm Beach, Florida. He is the No. 65 player in Florida and the No. 29 linebacker. He recently visited SEC schools in Kentucky, Missouri, and Oklahoma in June. Balogoun-Ali transferred to Cardinal Newman for the 2025 season after playing for Benjamin School. He picked up 56 tackles in 2024 with two sacks. He also played on offense, catching four touchdowns. He is the only linebacker committed to the 2026 class for the Tigers. For the 2025 class, Auburn signed three players at the position. The linebacker position is the youngest position group on the roster going into the 2025 season. Auburn still needs to do work on improving the 2026 class. With SEC media days occurring next week, Freeze should be prepared to answer questions on how he plans to improve the 2026 class. A big recruiting pitch for the Tigers will be a successful season on the field. 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 Phillip on Twitter @PJordanSEC
USA Today
03-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Auburn target Adam Bologoun-Ali changes commitment date
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__
USA Today
27-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Auburn football is in a three-team SEC race for 2026 LB Adam Balogoun-Ali
One of Auburn's top targets is ready to commit. Will Auburn close the deal next month? One of Auburn's top targets is ready to commit, and the Tigers will have to fight off two fellow SEC squads to land his pledge. Adam Bologoun-Ali, a four-star linebacker from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, shared on social media Thursday that he will announce his commitment on Sunday, July 6, and will choose between Auburn, Kentucky, and Missouri. Balogoun-Ali is trending to Auburn according to a recent report by Jeffrey Lee of Auburn Live, who also logged an expert prediction for Auburn to land him. In an interview with On3, Balogoun-Ali shared that Auburn defensive coordinator DJ Durkin is pulling all the stops in an effort to include Balogoun-Ali in the Tigers' 2026 signing class. 'Coach Durkin is great,' Balogoun-Ali said in an interview with On3. '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.' Lee's prediction gives Auburn an overwhelming shot to land Balogoun-Ali at 81.3%. Should Balogoun-Ali commit to Auburn, it would extend the Tigers' good fortune on the recruiting trail. Over the last week, Auburn has landed two commitments in offensive lineman Nikau Hepi and four-star quarterback Peyton Falzone, who flipped to the Tigers from Penn State. Those two pledges are seen as recruiting wins for Auburn, who had been in a rough patch by losing three key commitments in recent weeks. 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__
USA Today
25-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Auburn football receives prediction to land four-star Florida linebacker
Adam Balogoun-Ali is trending to Auburn as the month of June winds down. Auburn football needs a spark on the recruiting trail, and could find one in a Florida linebacker. On3's Jeffrey Lee has logged an expert prediction for four-star linebacker Adam Balogoun-Ali to land with Auburn, with a confidence level of 60%. Balogoun-Ali, a native of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, is the No. 1 linebacker in the 2026 class according to ESPN, and is the No. 21 player from Florida. Lee reports that Balogoun-Ali will announce his commitment soon, and that Auburn is the presumed favorite. Lee cites Balogoun-Ali's relationship with defensive coordinator DJ Durkin as the driving force in Auburn's strong standing with him. 'Coach Durkin is great,' Balogoun-Ali said in an interview with On3. '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.' Lee's prediction increases Auburn's chances of landing Balogoun-Ali to 81.3% according to On3's Recruiting Prediction Machine. Miami is next, followed by Kentucky. Auburn currently ranks No. 83 in 247Sports' 2026 recruiting rankings, with zero linebacker commitments. Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page onFacebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter@TaylorJones__
USA Today
14-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma Sooners offer ESPN's No. 1 Linebacker for 2026
Oklahoma Sooners offer ESPN's No. 1 Linebacker for 2026 The Oklahoma Sooners are looking to add to a talented four-star linebacker to their 2026 recruiting class, offering West Palm Beach, Fla. prospect Adam Balogoun-Ali. Balogoun Ali is the top-rated linebacker in the country, according to ESPN, and is a four-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite rankings. Balogoun-Ali announced his offer via social media on Thursday evening. In addition to the Oklahoma offer, he holds offers from a number of Power Four teams including Auburn, Kentucky, Baylor, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Indiana, Illinois, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina State, UNC, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. According to Parker Thune of OU Insider and Rivals, Balogoun-Ali was born and raised in Oklahoma before moving to Florida. He's a dynamic second-level player that does a great job timing his blitzes from a weakside linebacker spot. He displays fantastic speed and playmaking ability. He shows great instincts in zone, covering the flat, and has great hands which allow him to create turnovers in the passing game. He's a physical hitter, arriving to the ball carrier with force. A fantastic athlete, Balogoun-Ali would fill a similar role for the Sooners that Kip Lewis occupies as as weakside linebacker but also has the speed and athleticism to help out at cheetah. He's a fantastic player that would be a big addition for Brent Venables defense and Nate Dreiling's linebacker room. Adam Balogoun-Ali Highlights Check out Adam Balogoun-Ali Highlights Vitals Projected Position Linebacker Height 6-foot-2 Weight 215 Hometown West Palm Beach, Fla. Ratings Site Stars Overall Position State Rivals 4 -- 30 61 ESPN 4 128 1 22 247Sports 3 -- 26 62 247Sports Composite 4 220 17 34 On3 4 159 10 22 On3 Industry 4 240 17 35 Twitter
