From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, down to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Miami (FL) OT Francis Mauigoa.
No. 61 Francis Mauigoa/OT Miami (FL) – 6-6, 335 pounds (Junior)
MEASUREMENTS
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Francis Mauigoa 6-6/335 N/A N/A N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
N/A N/A N/A
THE GOOD
– Ideal size for the position with a massive lower half, but carries his weight exceedingly well
– Great power base that allows him to explode out of stance and be a top-tier athlete for a lineman
– Sits in his stance and easy and comfortable mover in all phases
– Great posture and bends at knees in pass protection
– High-end in pass protection, hard to beat around the edge, and has repeated elite reps holding block for 4-plus seconds
– Hands and feet work in sync, hands stay tight and deliver power on punch
– Excellent grip strength to latch and hold on, difficult to run through
– Uses length and foot speed well to recover in rare moments when beat
– Quickly covers ground and space in screen game; explosive puller who reaches spots with ease
– Drives feet and looks to finish in run game, does especially nice job washing down defenders with size and power
– Engulfs smaller rushers in pass protection who try to run through or rip past him
– Special physical traits with big upside
– Football bloodlines
– Appears to come from great family, and coaches rave about his makeup and character
The Bad
– Tends to play out of control as run blocker
– Can “wrestle” defenders and lose contact, too often falls off and is unable to stay attached
– Struggles most with redirecting against inside counters
– Seemingly spent most time in three-point stance
– Almost exclusively worked at right tackle and lacks flexibility
– Penalized too frequently
Stats
– Three-year starter for Hurricanes (42 in total)
– 2,813 career snaps (per PFF): 2,801 at RT, 10 at RG, 2 at TE
– 1,012 RT snaps in 2025 with another 10 at RG and 1 at TE
– PFF’s No. 14 overall offensive grade for OT in 2025 (No. 6 pass blocking grade, No. 22 run blocking grade)
– Allowed nine hurries and two sacks in 2025 (per PFF)
– 21 career penalties (nine in 2023, five in 2024, seven in 2025)
– PFF’s No. 2 grade on “true” pass sets
– Caught 3 yard TD against Syracuse, officially listed as a rush on backwards pass
Injury History
– 2023: Missed parts of two games with unknown injury (unclear if related to later shoulder surgery)
– 2024: Missed spring after undergoing surgery on both shoulders but returned for fall
Bio
– Five-star recruit from Ili’ili, American Samoa; moved to California as HS freshman, returned to American Samoa during pandemic before moving to Bradenton, Florida as HS junior to attend IMG Academy
– Ranked No. 2 offensive tackle behind Kadyn Proctor
– Chose Miami (FL) over offers from virtually the entire country; Alabama, Florida, Penn State, USC, Ohio State, and showed interest in Hawaii
– Cited close bond with new Miami coaching staff after HC Mario Cristobal and OL Coach Alex Mirabal recruited him hard while at Oregon
– First-team All-American in 2025
– Received practice reps at left guard and center early in Miami career
– Younger brother of Jets LB Francisco Mauigoa, who transferred from Washington State to Miami (FL) when Francis committed; mother and father also relocated from American Samoa
– Other brother Frederick Mauigoa briefly played in NFL for Bengals
– He and Francisco started a merchandise event with proceeds going to local Ronald McDonald house
– Once attended NCAA Elite Student-Athlete Symposium to study leadership, financial literacy, and how to become a better professional
– Cristobal once called Maugioa brothers “elite human beings” from an “elite family”
– Continues to represent Samoa culture and enjoys teaching teammates about it
– Played OL and DL in high school; Cristobal initially recruited him at Oregon as a d-lineman until he realized he could play OT
– Reportedly once posted 1.71 second ten-split
– Once ranked No. 5 on Bruce Feldman’s “Freak” list; Cristobal said he had greatest “muscle density” in program history with just 20.9 percent body fat, can bench 425 pounds and front squat 500 pounds
– Nickname is “Cici”
– Came from humble beginnings and once cut up slippers as knee/thigh pads as a kid in American Samoa
– Mother was assistant high school principal
– Isn’t a trash talker and prefers to let play do talking
– Last name pronounced “Maui-noa”
Tape Breakdown
From a tiny village of 3,000 people in American Samoa, Francis Mauigoa starred in front of the football world during his three seasons at Miami (FL). An immediate starter as a true freshman, his physical gifts are top of the class. Size with a great build and massive lower half. Excellent length. Top-end athleticism to make him a force on the field.
Pass protection is his calling card. Mauigoa fires out of his stance and is a hard man to get around on the edge. He plays with power, athleticism, and control in pass pro, with high-end reps most players simply can’t match. His hands and feet are in sync, and he varies his punch to keep pass rushers guessing. He’s the right tackle in all the clips below.
In space, he’s a force and covers ground in a hurry. Makes him effective in the screen game.
As a run blocker, Mauigoa is capable of generating movement, especially on down blocks. He drives and strains through the whistle. However, if there is a weakness, it’s in the run game. He can play a bit out of control and struggle to sustain and create movement on base/drive blocks, falling off too often.
He’s also played right tackle for nearly all of his NFL career. Though great pass rushers exist on either side, the NFL still values the blindside left tackle more than the right side. While he dabbled at different spots in practice early in his college career, Mauigoa is a right tackle at the NFL level.
There’s also a medical background worth checking out. Though he didn’t miss time, a double shoulder surgery is nothing to sneeze at. Doctors will need to ensure there are no long-term concerns.
Conclusion
Overall, Francis Mauigoa can be a special player at the NFL level. The physical traits are there. He’s well-regarded as a leader and high-character. If he cleans up his technique in the run game and keeps his feet under him, Mauigoa has the ability to become one of the league’s best offensive linemen. A blue-chip prospect in a draft class that doesn’t feature many of them.
My NFL comp is Penei Sewell, himself from American Samoa. Mauigoa might test a little better, but both are big, powerful right tackles with plenty of athleticism.
NFL Projection: Top 10 selection
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 9.1 (All-Pro)
Grade Range: 8.7-9.6
Games Watched: vs Notre Dame (2025), vs Florida (2025), vs Louisville (2025), vs Indiana (2025)
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