Francis Mauigoa parlays dominant Hurricanes career into No. 10 pick in NFL draft
Francis Mauigoa came to the University of Miami with high expectations and exceeded them.
On Thursday, his success on the gridiron for the Hurricanes paid off.
The New York Giants selected Mauigoa with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. He is the first Hurricanes offensive lineman selected in the first round since Erick Flowers went No. 9 overall in 2015 and the sixth ever, also joining Vernon Carey (No. 19 in 2004 to the Dolphins), Bryant McKinnie (No. 7 in 2002 to the Vikings), Leon Searcy (No. 11 in 1992 to the Steelers), and Dennis Harrah (No. 11 in 1975 to the Rams).
Mauigoa, a native of American Samoa who starred at IMG Academy in Bradenton before enrolling at UM, started all 42 career games at Miami at right tackle. He logged 2,814 snaps over his three years. He capped his college career as a consensus first-team All-American after a 2025 season in which he anchored Miami’s offensive line on the team’s way to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
He allowed eight sacks over 1,611 pass-blocking snaps while with the Hurricanes, including just two in 557 pass-blocking snaps as a junior. His pass-blocking grade of 87 last season according to Pro Football Focus ranked sixth among tackles with at least 300 pass-blocking snaps.
While Mauigoa played exclusively at tackle in college, there’s a chance he moves inside to guard at the NFL level.
And even though his individual success is what is leading him to the NFL, Mauigoa is perhaps most proud of how he helped elevated the Hurricanes program that got him into the spotlight.
He was part of a recruiting class that enrolled at UM when Miami was coming off a 5-7 season. That class, which also included the likes of Rueben Bain Jr. and Mark Fletcher Jr., knew it was going to be critical in the Hurricanes’ rise back to prominence under coach Mario Cristobal.
They certainly left their mark. They went 7-6 in 2023, 10-3 in 2024 and 14-2 with an appearance in the national championship game in 2025.
“It’s the growth, man,” Mauigoa said after the title-game loss to Indiana. “I came a long way with coach Cristobal and [offensive line] coach [Alex] Mirabal. I thank the Lord that I made this decision to come here to Miami to get to experience the culture and the tradition here.”
What they’re saying
-NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein describes Maugioa as having a “guard’s broad build, but he moves like a tackle in pass sets.”
“He’s highly experienced with an impressive football IQ that pops on tape,” Zierlein’s scouting report continues. “He has good contact balance and a strong core. He delivers firm first contact but excessive leaning diminishes not only his leverage and sustain as a run blocker but also his ability to deal with spin counters when protecting. He’s good at trapping rushers at the turn and can smother their momentum. He has the footwork, anchor and punch timing to diversify his pass-set approach. He works with an innate feel for pocket depth and is rarely out-paced to the top by speed. Mauigoa has a high ceiling but the leaning must be eradicated. He’ll be an early starter at right tackle but a move to guard could be on the table in the future.”
-ESPN’s Field Yates had Mauigoa as his No. 8 overall draft prospect. “He has a strong, thick lower half, with exceptional balance and footwork in pass protection. He is light, fluid and reactive enough to handle elusive edge rushers. Plus, he’s strong enough at the point of attack to make a big difference in the run game.”
-The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had Mauigoa ranked No. 2 in the draft class while describing him as “a durable blocker whose best NFL role may be as a guard rather than right tackle.”
“A wide-bodied blocker and “Freaks List” alum, Mauigoa carries his weight well. He doesn’t have elite length or foot quickness, but he plays with a relaxed feel in space to mirror and put rushers in a vise. He stays centered in pass sets and has a sturdy anchor to make defenders pay for trying to go through him. He gets in trouble lunging in the run game but plays stout through his extension to seal inside/outside run lanes.”
-CBS Sports had Mauigoa as its No. 16 overall draft prospect. “Mauigoa plays with high-end power at the point of attack in the run game, showing strong leverage and technique while excelling as a puller who reaches the second level. He’s technically sound in pass protection, with good instincts and footwork, plus the ability to mirror and anchor against power.”
This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 9:05 PM.
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