Could Hurricanes’ Francis Mauigoa go to Dolphins?

INDIANAPOLIS — Miami Hurricanes star right tackle and elite NFL draft prospect Francis Mauigoa has mostly been considered a top-10 pick come late April.

But in the latest mock draft of ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., he is slotted to stay in Miami, to the Dolphins with the No. 11 selection.

Mauigoa, speaking at the NFL scouting combine Saturday morning, wouldn’t mind that at all.

“That would be awesome, man,” Mauigoa said at Indiana Convention Center. “Miami’s second home. Miami has been there, I mean, with all the Cuban food and all the tradition. It’s awesome, man. It’ll be nice to be able to stay home and play with a couple of my teammates from back home, (left guard) Jonah Savaiinaea, and also Tua Tagovailoa.”

Now, if he is drafted by the Dolphins, Mauigoa, who is Samoan like Tagovailoa and Savaiinaea, may not get his wish of blocking for Tagovailoa.

Miami is likely bound to part ways with its former franchise quarterback and the No. 5 pick in the 2020 draft this offseason. New general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said “everything’s on the table” when it comes to Tagovailoa.

The Dolphins will first try to find a trade partner to offload the passer and his $54 million guaranteed for the 2026 season. Assuming a trade can’t be executed, they would then presumptively release him, spreading out the $99.2 million dead cap hit, in all likelihood.

Nonetheless, Mauigoa had a story on connecting with Tagovailoa in the three years they’ve both been in South Florida.

“I met him last year or two years ago,” Mauigoa recalled. “I was doing an assignment (for class). It was to interview people off campus. I was like, ‘Let me hit up Tua, find a way to communicate with him.’ Thankfully, that happened. He’s an awesome guy.”

Savaiinaea, though, whom the Dolphins traded up in the second round to draft last year, would be going into the second season on his four-year rookie contract after starting at left guard last year. Landing in Miami could afford Mauigoa the opportunity to start on the same offensive line as him.

“We’re all (Polynesian). We’re all Samoan,” Mauigoa said. “So, we’re kind of connected by that. Samoa’s very little, so the people stay together. We were raised on a quote that, ‘It takes a village to raise a kid.’ ”

Mauigoa could be up for the draft’s top offensive lineman. Utah tackle Spencer Fano, Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor, Georgia’s Monroe Freeling and Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane are others in that mix.

Mauigoa, an All-American as a junior last season, was the Hurricanes’ starting right tackle since he joined the team as a five-star recruit out of IMG Academy.

The Dolphins’ new leadership could decide to find a new long-term solution at right tackle as Austin Jackson has struggled to consistently stay on the field and perform. While Jackson is under contract, there is talk from NFL teams that Mauigoa could move inside to guard in the pros.

“If they want me at whatever position, I’m going to do it,” Mauigoa said.

As Mauigoa met with the Dolphins at the combine, he said the conversation went well.

“They know what type of football we play down in Miami, of course,” he said.

Mauigoa’s fit in the Dolphins offense could come into question ahead of the draft because one criticism of him is his range in the outside-zone run-blocking scheme.

The Dolphins often run the outside zone and are expected to continue that after parting ways with former coach Mike McDaniel as new coach Jeff Hafley has Bobby Slowik as his offensive coordinator.

“I know they run that a lot,” Mauigoa said, “and we do that quite often with the Miami Hurricanes, as well. Outside blocking is just turning and take whoever, know your landmark, know what you got. I always go by what, how and why: what you got, how you’re going to do it and why you’re going to do it. And that’s just how (Miami offensive line coach Alex) Mirabal taught me.”

Mirabal is one of UM coach Mario Cristobal’s esteemed assistants on the staff. Cristobal, too, has his background in developing offensive linemen.

“He’s an old school type of coach,” Mauigoa said of Cristobal. “It’s all down to (nitty)-gritty, everything like that. And that’s the way I grew up back on the island. It’s all from the heart.”

Both Mauigoa and defensive end Rueben Bain are UM draft prospects mostly expected to be off the board in the first 10 selections but who could be dream picks for the Dolphins if either falls to No. 11.

Miami could also presumably choose a cornerback, with LSU’s Mansoor Delane and Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy as options.