A rising international standout, Nikau Hepi, is making waves at 6‑foot‑7 and approximately 353–370 lb, with a massive frame reminiscent of Jordan Mailata. Born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, Nikau had zero organized football experience until last year—having grown up playing rugby league. His athletic transformation began when he tried out for the NFL Academy on the Gold Coast, inspired by seeing images of Mailata and dreaming of wearing #68 himself
Within weeks, the Academy’s head scout, Will Bryce, spotted something special and offered him a scholarship. Since then, he’s thrown himself into explosive American‑football drills, finding the intensity and short‑burst athleticism more suited to his size than enduring the heavy conditioning of rugby league
His dedication is already bearing fruit: in February 2025, Auburn University offered Nikau a preliminary Division I scholarship as an offensive tackle—a testament to how rapidly he’s ascending despite zero prior game reps .
Nikau has also taken part in NFL Academy international camps, including a recent trip to IMG Academy in Florida, further learning from American coaches and recruiters
In short, Nikau Hepi’s story is one of astonishing transformation:
- Zero football experience in early 2024.
- Joined NFL Academy on the Gold Coast.
- Adopted a fierce training mindset modeled after Jordan Mailata.
- Earned a D‑I college offer from Auburn by early 2025.
- Continues training internationally with top NFL development programs.
That would allow me to dive deeper into:
- His background and upbringing in NZ/Australia
- Insights from coaches, including Will Bryce
- Training regimen at the NFL Academy and IMG
- Comparison with Mailata’s journey
- Auburn’s evaluation and what they see in him
- Broader context: the rise of NZ/Australian athletes in American football
Just let me know if you’d like the full-length treatment—I can absolutely build it out!g