Auburn siblings Antonio, Elijah Melendez pack punch

AUBURN, Ala. – Antonio and Elijah Melendez go to each other’s apartments after every football game. No matter what time the game ended, the brothers dedicate hours afterward to rewatching every second. 

The Auburn linebackers analyze the game and point out things each other can improve.

The routine has been a prominent feature in Antonio and Elijah’s lives and has helped improve their games significantly. 

“Whether he’s on defense or I’m playing special teams, we break down every single thing, every single game,” Antonio said. “It’s made our relationship a lot closer. It made us more of friends too, alongside brothers.”

The family connection

Elijah Melendez, a sophomore who is one of the best linebackers in the SEC, came to Auburn his freshman year and quickly earned his spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2025. This year, Elijah was named captain and has started every game at linebacker.

Antonio walked on at Auburn last year as a sophomore. He is also a linebacker, but he has gotten most of his playing time on special teams.

Since joining the team, the two have kept a close relationship both as teammates and as brothers. Their relationship has been crucial in keeping a competitive edge when facing tougher opponents. 

“No matter how practice is going, no matter how anything’s going, I always have somebody that’s going to tell me what’s real,” Elijah said. “Even if I ever get down on myself, he’s going to remind me, ‘don’t ever lose your confidence.’ And if it ever gets too high, it’s ‘bro, stay humble.’”

Growing up

Antonio and Elijah would often compete against each other in different sports growing up. This not only helped them become more aggressive on the football field, but it helped grow their confidence in how they were playing. 

Even though working out together was nothing new, being teammates was something they didn’t really get to experience until college.

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“It’s definitely unique because we more grew up together than played football together,” Antonio said. “We were always in different weight classes or with different age groups. But, growing up together, we trained together for every single sport year round.”

Being in different age groups never stopped the brothers from working out together. 

Frequently, Antonio and Elijah would attend each other’s practices if their own team wasn’t practicing. 

‘Gives us that edge’

Once the two Puerto Ricans from Kissimmee, Fla., got to Auburn, their routines were similar. With Elijah Melendez playing defense and his older brother Antonio playing on special teams, their practice schedules often looked different, but the brothers would still find time to work out together. 

The competition between the brothers has helped Antonio and Elijah improve. This season, Antonio has seen action in every game. 

Elijah Melendez recorded a career high 12 tackles in the season opener against Baylor. He leads the Tigers in tackles and tackles for loss. He has recorded 29 tackles so far, 19 solo, matching his total for last season. 

By using the competitiveness they have with each other in games, Antonio and Elijah have already made a strong case for their seasons. 

“I feel like it makes us aggressive,” Elijah said. “It just gives us that edge. With everybody that we go against, we want to see who’s more of a man. We want to see who’s better and we want to see who’s really about that life.”

The competitiveness between the brothers is also prominent off of the football field. They will often do strength and speed workouts together over breaks or in the offseason. 

More than teammates

Antonio and Elijah both credit each other for where they are today. Since growing up in a competitive household, the brothers have found ways to channel that contest onto the football field. 

Although Antonio and Elijah cherish the moments on the field together, their relationship as brothers extends beyond football. 

“I don’t ever get homesick,” Elijah said. “I don’t ever feel lonely. I don’t ever feel like I don’t have any friends.

“He’s going to be there for me, whether I have 12 tackles or whether I have zero tackles. Whether I’m playing or not, at the end of the day he’s going to be there to tell me straight up what it is.”