Nigerian defender Richard Jibunor targeted by Alabama, Auburn

Richard Jibunor

Richard Jibunor competes at The Opening Atlanta regional camp on March 26, 2017. (Wesley Sinor / wsinor@al.com)

Richard Jibunor has only played high school football for two seasons, but he's already racked up 14 college scholarship offers.


"It's going awesome, I thank God," Jibunor told AL.com Sunday at Nike's The Opening Atlanta regional camp. "It's a little bit busy, but at the same time it's a good feeling."

Jibunor is originally from Nigeria and moved to the United States in 2014 to attend Athens Christian School in Georgia as a foreign exchange student. He grew up playing soccer and basketball before picking up football his sophomore year in 2015.

"Coming to a new country on my own without my family wasn't really easy, but I thank God for the school that I'm in and the family I stay with," he said. "They're awesome. The Brown family took me in and they really take very good care of me. My school, they all treat my like their own, so I really enjoy it a lot."

The 6-foot-3, 206-pounder is ranked as the nation's No. 64 athlete in the 247Sports Composite and plays both linebacker and defensive end. During The Opening on Sunday, he was named the Most Valuable Player on the defensive line despite being just a three-star prospect. Offensive linemen had problems keeping him from blowing past them all day.

Jibunor has no leaders or favorites at this time, but he said he's closer to the coaching staffs at Auburn and Alabama than any other schools. He's made more visits to Auburn than anywhere else.

"They've got a good football program and they're a good academic school too," Jibunor said of Auburn. "The coaches are nice. I have a very good relationship with the coaches.

"They like my athleticism, my length and how fast I can move. I'm really raw -- I'm still learning the game a lot. I'm ready to learn. They like my personality and how much I show them I really want to learn. After I worked with them last summer they saw what kind of person I was. They really like my measurements and speed."

Auburn already has two Nigerian players on the roster -- offensive linemen Prince Tega Wanogho Jr. and Prince Michael Sammons. Jibunor has met both and become close with Wanogho.

"I talk to Junior a lot, almost every time," Jibunor said. "He tells me what's going on with him. He's like a big brother to me. He just checks on me a lot, how a brother should. I like his personality. He's ready to carry me along and be there for me the whole time."

Jibunor said he's "sure" he will be at Auburn's A-Day spring scrimmage April 8. He had planned a recent trip to Alabama, but it fell through.

"I'm planning on going there sometime soon," Jibunor said. "I know they've been very good. I've known about the program for a long time. So when the offer came it was like 'Oh, wow.' The coaches talked to me. I talked to Coach Saban, he was very good. He likes me. Coach Jeremy Pruitt, he likes me too. We talk on the phone every time and checks on me a lot."

Jibunor plans to make his commitment this summer before his senior season gets underway. Until then, he plans on continuing to learn the game of football.

"I'm not sure I'll ever know football completely," he said. "I just want to keep on learning.

"My mom knows I'm out here doing great and she knows I have dreams of going to college. All she wants for me is just to get a good education. That's the main reason why she wanted me to come over here. So on Friday nights I'm chasing my dream of trying to go to college. It's a very good feeling and it puts her in a very good place."

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