WEST PALM BEACH — Cardinal Newman four-star standout linebacker Adam Balogoun-Ali is heading to Auburn University after signing with the Tigers during a school ceremony on the first day of the Early Signing Period on Wednesday.
Balogoun-Ali, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound inside linebacker, has been ranked No.1 at his position in his class by ESPN 300. He is the No. 46 player in the state in the Composite 247Sports rankings for the Class of 2026. He has recorded 101 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss and had an interception return for a touchdown to help lead the Crusaders to a 1A state semifinal on Friday.
Balogoun-Ali, who is in his first season at Cardinal Newman, had previously played at Benjamin.
“It’s been an incredible season and I feel I get better every game,” Balogoun-Ali said. “The development here is unmatched and I am thankful to my coaches. I want to be one of the best linebackers in college football. I feel with my versatility on the field, I can make an amazing impact.”
Balogoun-Ali committed to Auburn this past July. He also considered Missouri and Florida heading into Early Signing Day. Former Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze was fired this past November and defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin had served as the interim coach. The Tigers had finished 5-7 during the regular season. Alex Golesh, who served as head coach at the University of South Florida for the past three seasons, was hired for the same position at Auburn on Nov. 30.
“I didn’t know who my defensive coordinator would be and who would be in the linebacker room so I started thinking about Missouri and Florida and they had a chance,” Balogoun-Ali said. “It made me comfortable to stay at Auburn with D.J. [Durkin] still there.”
Cardinal Newman High School football player Adam Balogoun-Ali (Auburn) poses during a signing day ceremony at his school, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Cardinal Newman quarterback Jyron Hughley (West Virginia) and offensive tackle Brayden Chaney (Syracuse) also both signed at the ceremony.
Hughley, who was selected as the Sun Sentinel Palm Beach 4A-1A Offensive Player of the Year during his junior season, has accounted for 29 touchdowns and rushed for 1,250 yards entering the state semifinal. Hughley has served as the team’s starting quarterback for the past two seasons. The 6-foot-1,180-pound three-star prospect, is the No. 26 ATH nationally in the 247Sports Composite rankings for his class. He committed to West Virginia last April.
“Coach Jack [Daniels] welcomed me with open arms my 10th-grade year and the coaches have believed in me to help me get to the next level,” Hughley said.
Cardinal Newman High School football player, Jyron Hughley (West Virginia), poses during a signing day ceremony at his school, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Charney, a 6-foot-6, 285-pound offensive tackle, also came from Benjamin. He is ranked No. 149 nationally at his position in the Composite 247Sports rankings in his class. Charney, a three-star prospect, had committed to Syracuse in June.
“It’s been a great season and I have never made it this far in my high school career,” Charney said. “I am excited for a new opportunity to show my talent and to work hard. Coach [Fran] Brown really stood out to me the way he preaches and as a coach to help in my development at Syracuse.”
Crusaders running back Phoenix Donghia, a James Madison commit, and offensive lineman Iggy Zulaica, a Florida A&M commit, elected to hold off from signing Wednesday.
Cardinal Newman High School football player Brayden Charney (Syracuse) poses during a signing day ceremony at his school, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
— ALEX KUSHEL
Signings galore at West Boca Raton
With the West Boca Raton two wins from a state title repeat in 6A, star running back Javian Mallory put pen to paper and locked in with Miami and was among the double-digit signings for the Bulls on Wednesday.
“I’m just blessed and happy,” Mallory said. “I’m just very thankful for everybody in my corner, in my circle, that helped me get to where I’m at. It’s only the beginning”
The other West Boca signings announced were CB Jaydin Broadnax (Louisville), EDGE Demetrius Geathers (South Florida), DL Xavier Reid (Liberty), C/DT Chris Medina (Bethune-Cookman), OL DeCarlo Alvarez (Presbyterian), WR Kyle Andrews (West Georgia), FS/WR Tayegan Briskey (Air Force), DE/LB Grant Edmond (Wagner) and WR/TE Calerbe Hermane (Murray State).
Somerset’s Baker heads for UCF
Kaj Baker, an athlete from Somerset Academy in Pembroke Pines, is headed to UCF. He committed to the school in June after narrowing the list down to the final three schools – UCF, Pittsburgh, and Virginia. He held 15 offers.
“It was the perfect fit for me offensively,” said Baker, a standout track and football player. “ I love coach (Scott) Frost’s vision for me as an offensive weapon,” Baker said. “I will be playing running back, wide receiver and returning kicks.
“My expectations on going to UCF is to play right away as a freshman,” said Baker, who finished the season with 1,022 yards rushing and added 516 yards receiving and four TDs this year for the 4-7 Panthers. “That’s part of the reason I’m going in January. It’s a great opportunity for me to play right now.”
— GARY CURRERI
Palm Beach Central moves
Palm Beach Central linebacker Antoine Sharp signed his financial aid package with West Virginia. He committed in June after taking his official visit. Sharp held 24 D1 offers and said he is expecting to make an immediate impact.
“During the official visit, I felt like I was in the right place,” said Sharp, who finished the season with 100 tackles, including 73 solo, five sacks, a fumble recovery and a pass defended. “It was not any one thing, it was a combination of the right coaching staff, amazing facilities and support, and the culture that West Virginia is creating under Coach (Rich Rodriguez).”
Cornerback Travis Jackson is staying close to home, choosing FAU over his other finalist Bethune Cookman. Jackson, who finished the year with 37 tackles and two interceptions for the Broncos (6-5) this season, committed on November 29.
“I selected FAU because when I went on the visit it felt like it was the right school for me and it just felt like I belonged there,” Jackson said.
STA with its usual bunch of signees
St. Thomas Aquinas quarterback Brady Palmer, said he committed to Temple for a variety of reasons, the main one being the coaching staff at the school. He’s 10 of 12 for 97 yards and two scores for the six-time-defending-champ Raiders in limited action.
“I love the vision that they have for the program, and I saw myself fitting in perfectly with what they wanted to accomplish,” said Palmer. “I saw it as a place where I felt at home, and I know I will find a lot of success there in the future.”
Phillip Goodrich, a 6-0, 215-pound St. Thomas Aquinas linebacker committed to Army West Point on Nov. 18. Like most of the athletes that signed today, he said he felt the decision was right after taking an official visit.
“I felt that decision felt right the moment I stepped on campus,” said Goodrich, who has 97 tackles, including 4 sacks and an interception for the Raiders, who have won 12 straight and are just two wins from seven titles in a row.
“The history, the energy, the scenery, the brotherhood, the facilities – everything hit different,” he said. “The coaches didn’t just talk about developing me as a player, they showed me how they build leaders and men of character.”
Mississippi State signee Dylan Steen, an offensive lineman, said the opportunity to grow in his position, while playing in the SEC was just too good to pass up.
“I expect to be coached up and developed and compete at the highest level,” he explained. “I expect us to turn it around in the near future.”
Adam Lichtenstein contributed to this report.
