{"id":703822,"date":"2026-01-25T11:56:29","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T11:56:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/703822\/"},"modified":"2026-01-25T11:56:29","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T11:56:29","slug":"miami-t-francis-mauigoa-declares-for-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/703822\/","title":{"rendered":"Miami T Francis Mauigoa Declares For Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"

Considered one of the top lineman prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft and a consensus first-round talent, Miami (FL) offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa<\/a> announced this week on his Instagram<\/a> that he will forgo his senior year of college and declare for the draft. Following in the steps of last year\u2019s No. 1 overall pick, Mauigoa projects as a potential top 10 pick after a strong finish to his college career under the brightest of lights. \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Unlike Cam Ward<\/a>, who started out as a zero-star prospect and arrived in Coral Gables by way of Incarnate Ward and Washington State via transfer portal, Mauigoa arrived at the U as a consensus five-star prospect. Born in American Samoa, Mauigoa first got the attention of the recruiting world as a stellar two-way lineman at Aquinas HS (CA). He went back home for his sophomore year at Tafuna HS in American Samoa before transferring to the prestigious IMG Academy (FL), a school near Tampa known for bringing in top high school players from around the country to develop for college.<\/p>\n

Mauigoa\u2019s offers came early and often, rising him quickly to five-star status as the top schools in the country fought for his signature. After taking official visits to Alabama, Florida, USC, Miami, and Tennessee, Mauigoa committed to first-year Miami head coach Mario Cristobal before his senior year and became the headliner of the Hurricanes\u2019 signing class. By the end of the recruiting cycle, 247Sports composite ranking<\/a> listed him as the ninth-best overall recruit and the top offensive tackle in the nation.<\/p>\n

As an early enrollee, Mauigoa got a headstart on his ability to make an impact as a true freshman but surprised many when he was named the starting right tackle in his first year with the team. He showed a ton of promise in his first season with the Hurricanes with elite size \u2014 listed at 6-foot-6, 335 pounds as a true freshman \u2014 and impressive strength for his age, but he still had plenty of room for improvement in his technique.<\/p>\n

He improved with each season he played in Coral Gables, getting named second-team All-ACC as a sophomore before leaving no doubt as a consensus All-American in Year 3. For much of his junior campaign, draft pundits assessed that his skillset was more aligned for a role on the interior of the offensive line, but as each piece of game film came through, those pundits became a bit more bullish on the idea of Mauigoa sticking at tackle in the NFL.\u00a0The view of him as an NFL tackle started to solidify more and more on his team\u2019s run through to College Football Playoff, which ended with a home loss to the Hoosiers in the Playoff\u2019s final game. Still, though, against some of the NCAA\u2019s top competition, including several of the draft\u2019s top pass rushing prospects, Mauigoa continued to shine with everyone watching, allowing just one sack and two pressures in 16 games.<\/p>\n

Of some of those major draft pundits, Dane Brugler of The Athletic\u2019s midseason ranking<\/a> of Mauigoa as the 16th-best overall prospect and second-best offensive tackle is currently his lowest major ranking. ESPN contributors Mel Kiper Jr. and Matt Miller both have Mauigoa as their top offensive tackle prospect, with Miller ranking him as the seventh-best overall prospect<\/a> and Kiper slotting him in at No. 8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After a stellar 2025 season, Mauigoa has likely cemented his first-round status. Plenty of teams will be open to adding a top offensive line prospect with a high floor and potential to start at tackle or guard. Though not likely, if the Jets were to take him No. 2 overall, it would reunite Mauigoa with his older brother, Francisco Mauigoa<\/a>, a rookie linebacker taken by New York in the fifth round last year. With the elder Mauigoa\u2019s first name encompassing all the letters of younger brother\u2019s, the two go by \u201cKiko\u201d and \u201cSisi\u201d to avoid confusion.<\/p>\n

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