5 star Francis Mauigoa commits, gives Miami Hurricanes big-time offensive tackle prospect
A couple of major factors helped the University of Miami land one of the nation’s top-rated prospects today, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy five-star OT Francis Mauigoa.
Mauigoa, who announced Monday for UM over Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, and USC, built a strong relationship with coaches Mario Cristobal and Alex Mirabal dating back to when they recruited him to Oregon.
“I’ve been talking to this coaching staff for like a while, way back,” Mauigoa said. “We have a strong bond right.”
And Mauigoa also has a tie to Miami DL coach Joe Salave’a – both are from American Samoa.
It also helped that he loved his June visit to Coral Gables.
But this one remained in suspense until the very end. Alabama, Miami and Tennessee all took Zooms with Mauigoa Sunday night according to On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons.
In the end it really came down to Miami vs. Tennessee.
Mauigoa stressed that he made this decision as not a three-to-five years choice but a 50-year decision.
When Mauigoa announced he stressed that the fact that Cristobal was an offensive line-minded coach was a major facator.
“I have a lot of trust in coach Mirabal, Cristobal,” he said. “The coaching staff, they’re settled over there. We built a lot of bonds, relationships. … That’s an offensive lineman’s dream (to play for a head coach that has coached the O line).”
Top 10
- 1New
AP Poll Top 25
Three new teams enter Top 10
- 2
Coaches Poll
Top 25 shakeup after Week 9
- 3Trending
Michigan-MSU fight
Things turned ugly as game ended
- 4
Marcel Reed
Kirk Herbstreit reacts to Texas A&M win
- 5
Prime Payday
Deion Sanders earns 2 big bonuses
What have the Canes landed here?
His On3 scouting report reads “Wide-bodied, nimble mover who is excelling in his first season as a full-time offensive lineman. Works at right tackle for IMG, but likely projects on the interior due to his arm length and build. Played very well against a national schedule and some top pass rushers as a junior. Uses his natural strength to create a big push in the run game. Plays with a wide base and has considerable pop in his hands. Has mauling qualities as a drive blocker and is athletic enough to get to the second level with ease. Though he doesn’t project as an offensive tackle long-term, showed some very encouraging skills in pass protection.”
The comparison from On3? It’s to Penei Sewell (“Francis Mauigoa’s nimble athleticism and physical play style reminds us of Penei Sewell. Both are strong functional movers despite their weights at over 320 pounds. They excel as run blockers while also having the feet and coordination to succeed in pass protection as offensive tackles. Mauigoa tests as a better athlete than Sewell at the same stage.”)
Sewell, of course, was the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions out of Oregon.
So not a bad comparison for this future Miami Hurricane.
A final thought from Mauigoa?
“It’s all about the u!” he says, adding “I’m going to bring y all so we can build this team for a lot more to come. … We’re going to win another natty, bring it back.”
CaneSport’s take
Miami’s struggled to attract top-rated offensive tackles in recent years, so this is a turning point. Mauigoa has the level of physicality and knowledge of the game to be a Day 1 starter, and we cannot overemphasize how big an addition this is to the class. Kudos to Crisotbal and Mirabal on this one.
