It was fitting that Luke and Tom Stoltman — the world’s strongest brothers — announced from Scotland the Jets’ fifth-round selection of Miami LB Francisco “Kiko” Mauigoa. Mauigoa, a strong, rugged, physical linebacker, took a long road to the NFL, which began in a territory thousands of miles from the US mainland.
“I was born and raised in American Samoa, went to Cali for my junior year of high school just for exposure of high school football and [to] get some offers,” Mauigoa, 22, said on draft weekend. “I first got my offer in Cali and then I went back home when Covid struck and then committed to Washington State. So, it was a rough ride, it was a rough journey, but the people I spent my lifetime with was worth the wait and worth the journey. So it was amazing.”
Starting in the American Samoa, Mauigoa attended Tafuna HS and played QB for two seasons. He and his younger brother, Francis, joined a host family in San Bernardino, CA, and Kiko played both ways at Aquinas Catholic HS. The boys returned home, and he played his senior season at Tafuna before he and Francis transferred to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. Washington State was Mauigoa’s lone Power 5 offer and he became their 12th-ranked recruit in the 2021 class. He appeared in 25 games for Washington State from 2021-22, recording 77 tackles, 6 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 3 FF, 2 PDs and 1 INT.
Entering the transfer portal following the 2022 season, Mauigoa was contacted by Miami’s Mario Cristobal and he and Francis committed to play for the ‘Canes.
“He was the first to reach out to me, and when I went on my visit, like I said, it just felt like family,” Mauigoa said. “I just felt like I fit in, and it just allowed me to play fast, and the type of defense we ran allowed me to play fast and physical downhill.”