Miami football finalist for 5-star OT Francis Mauigoa with June official visit

The Miami football program was named one of six finalists for five-star IMG Academy offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa. Mauigoa will take an official visit with the Miami football program beginning June 21 per On3.Com. Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, USC and Tennessee are the other five programs that Mauigoa named as finalists.

Mauigoa is ranked by On3 as the 10th overall player, second OT and third in Florida in the Class of 2023. Tennessee at 59.7 percent to receive a commitment from Mauigoa and USC at 33.6 are the prohibitive favorites to receive a commitment from Mauigoa per the On3 Prediction Machine. Miami is third at 2.6 percent.

The six finalists were narrowed down from 13 programs Maugoa previously named as top contenders to sign him. Mauigoa has taken unofficial visits to Miami in January and April. Florida, Hawaii, Tennessee and USC have all also received unofficial vists this year. Mauigoa spoke to Greg Biggins of 247 Sports about his recruitment.

"Miami– “I’m very close with the Miami staff because I was close with them when they were at Oregon. I developed a great relationship with coach Cristobal and coach (Alex) Mirabal (OL coach). I talk to them all the time but it’s not just them, I feel someone from the staff reaches out to me every day.Coach (head coach Mario) Cristobal is a former OL coach and I like that. Having a strong offensive line has always been important to him and it’s something that he emphasizes. Plus I got my guy Jaleel Skinner over there too and I always have a good time on the Miami campus and feel at home.My parents are flying in from American Samoa so we had to squeeze them all (his official visits) in like that”"

Miami has five 2023 commits that include three-stars, interior offensive lineman Antonio Tripp from Owings Mills, Maryland and Samoan OT Frankie Tinilau. With Cristobal has head coach and Mirabal as the position coach, Miami will emphasize the OL. Miami signed two OL in the class of 2022 and have added two transfer OL.

Mauigoa is the seventh highest rated uncommitted player for 2023 per the On3 consensus rankings. The most recent scouting report from Andrew Ivins of 247 Sports in April project Mauigoa as a future NFL first round pick. Miami has not had an OL drafted in the first round since Ereck Flowers in 2015.