Auburndale football DB Adonis Culyer announces college commitment

Auburndale cornerback commits

All it took for Auburndale senior cornerback Adonis Culyer was a belief that he could do the job on the next level.

And that's exactly what happened for Culyer when he visited South Dakota in June when the Division I college assured him that his talent was good enough for him to compete against some of the same caliber of talent. So, on June 6 he committed because, of course, he felt it was the right fit, making it clear that he could very much be a part of what they're building (South Dakota went 10-5 with a first-year head coach in 2025).

"It's a blessing for sure," Culyer said. "I've worked hard for this and I'm excited to keep working and compete at the next level."

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But for Culyer to even think about the next level, he thought his best choice to put him in position to be seen by the next level was transferring from Lake Gibson to Auburndale — a choice he made at the end of the 2025 season. Additionally, Culyer said Auburndale was a better fit for him academically.

And when the final decision was made, Culyer just focused on augmenting his skill set to eventually help Auburndale win its fourth 7-on-7 football championship in school history this month.

"(I was) just staying locked in through everything that came with the season. I kept working, trusted the process and focused on getting better every day," Culyer said.

And that certainly happened, as there were big plays that gave the Bloodhounds some momentum in this past 7-on-7 tournament, which also seemingly galvanized everyone, changing the energy of the game. Culyer even had an interception in the 27-8 championship win over Bartow.

"I think I can bring a lot of effort and versatility. I'm ready to compete, keep learning, and do whatever I can to help the team win," he said.

Auburndale head football coach Antonio Thomas thinks Culyer is a missing piece to add on to a very successful 8-3 2025."I'm very impressed with him. He's a workaholic (and) he doesn't say much. He lets his work do the talking for him. He's got a very bright future in football. His parents have done a great job with him. (He's) well-mannered. (You) can tell he has a strong foundation at home. (I'm) really looking forward to watching him continue to blossom this season. … South Dakota is getting the total package. Grades on point. He's always on time to everything," Thomas said.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Auburndale football DB Adonis Culyer announces college commitment

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