When Francis Mauigoa committed to Miami, the 5-star prospect was considered the best Hurricanes offensive line prospect since Bryant McKinnie or Seantrel Henderson.
Mauigoa, like both players, entered the program with great expectations and through two-plus seasons he managed to be as good as advertised. He was a freshman All-American in 2023, second-team All-ACC last season and is now on pace to be one of the top offensive linemen in the country this year.
So it's no surprise that the NFL buzz surrounding Mauigoa is heating up and recent projections by CBS Sports have him going into the top ten of the 2026 NFL Draft. Mauigoa is projected to go ninth to the New England Patriots and be the second offensive tackle taken in the draft.
Francis Mauigoa clearing lanes pic.twitter.com/PqYOiIfNVk
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) September 5, 2025
Building a foundation from the inside out
With defensive lineman Reuben Bain already projected to go fifth, having two Hurricanes in the top nine a year after quarterback Cam Ward was selected first overall, is exactly the perception that Mario Cristobal wants top talent to have about playing at Miami. Come play football here, and we'll make sure you get in the league.
But Cristobal, a former offensive lineman himself, wants to be the destination for top talent in the trenches. He knows that the championship teams in college football are built on the front lines, and he wants to make Miami as appealing of a destination for linemen as Texas, Alabama, Georgia and Ohio State are.
Miami already has multiple projected offensive tackles in the 2026 class with 5-star Jackson Cantwell leading the way. All aspects of the offensive line are being addressed as in-state 3-star prospects Canon Pickett (Tampa) and Rhys Woodrow (Orlando) are athletic prospects that play offensive tackle in high school, but will likely kick inside to become guards in college.
The Hurricanes are also hot on the trail of blue-chip local defensive line prospect James "JJ" Johnson, a Texas commit who has shown growing interest in the Hurricanes. Cristobal would love to pair Johnson, a natural interior pass rusher, with 4-star nose guard Anthony Kennedy Jr.