Bryant McKinnie says Francis Mauigoa, Samson Okunlola remind him of himself

Bryant McKinnie is a legend around Coral Gables, being a member of the famous Miami 2001 national championship team. He was a unanimous All-American and received the Outland Trophy for being the best interior lineman in the country. McKinnie wound up as the No. 7 overall pick and won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens.

Now, McKinnie is back around the Miami program, checking out the old stomping grounds. He showed up at the right time from an offensive line standpoint, with head coach Mario Cristobal recruiting the position well. Francis Mauigoa and Samson Okunlola stand out as five-star prospects and McKinnie is liking what he sees from the pair.

“They remind me of myself,” McKinnie said. “So, excited to meet them and see — their footwork is important — how they play. After footwork and technique, it’s about mindset. So, that too.”

Mauigoa played high school football at Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy, where he was a Five-Star Plus+ prospect. He was the No. 12 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

As for Okunlola, he was a five-star prospect out of Brockton (MA) Thayer Academy. On the national scale, PLAYER came in at No. 17 in the 2023 cycle.

Both guys were huge needs for Cristobal in Miami’s 2023 recruiting class. As somebody who is known for having good offensive line play, the Hurricanes struggled last season. Between recruiting and the NCAA transfer portal, they feel like things have been fixed. Mauigoa and Okunlola play a huge factor in that.

Even so, there is still some learning for the pair to do. Playing under Cristobal and Miami offensive line coach Alex Mirabal is usually a good start. Going back to their days at Oregon, they have produced plenty of good talent up front. And as you can tell, they recruit the position at a high level as well.

But gaining experience from somebody who has had success at Miami and in the NFL is invaluable. Especially when McKinnie is already seeing traits he likes of the freshmen. Of course, there is still room for improvement.

It’s tough to be a solid offensive lineman early in your college football career. Getting an endorsement from somebody like McKinnie should be a positive sign for those wanting Mauigoa and Okunlola to see the field this upcoming fall.