Pro Football Focus named Francis Mauigoa in Top 10 returning OTs nationally

Francis Mauigoa was named the second-best returning offensive tackle by Max Chadwick of Pro Football Focus for the 2025 season. Mauigoa has started all 26 Miami games during the first two seasons of his collegiate career. The NFL Mock Draft Database projects Mauigoa as the eighth-best prospect for 2026.

Mauigoa was part of a Miami offense that was first nationally averaging 43.9 points per game and 537.2 yards per game. Miami tied for fourth nationally with Baylor allowing 3.54 tackles for loss per game. Miami and Texas A&M tied for 56th nationally allowing 1.77 sacks per game.

The Miami offensive line helped the Hurricanes finish sixth nationally on yards per carry and 19th with 30 touchdowns scored on the ground. Mauigoa will be the only three-year starter on the 2025 Miami offensive line. As a mainstay for three seasons, Mauigoa has provided Miami with stability on the offensive line.

Mauiogoa is one of three returning starting offensive linemen for Miami in 2025 with guards Anez Cooper and Matthew McCoy. Projected starting left tackle Markel Bell played in 12 games with five starts for Miami in 2024. Miami will have one of the most experienced offensive lines entering 2025, led by Mauigoa.

"The former five-star recruit showed marked improvement as a pass blocker during his sophomore campaign, allowing just two combined sacks/hits on 534 pass-blocking snaps. He was the only FBS tackle with two or fewer knockdowns allowed on 500-plus pass-blocking snaps.

Mauigoa’s 71.4 run-blocking grade since 2023 is also tied for fourth among ACC tackles. There’s still some overall refinement needed in his game, but he’s one of the favorites to be OT1 in the 2026 NFL Draft. "

Max Chadwick, Pro Footbal Focus

Mauigoa, the other returnees on the Miami offensive line and the addition of center James Brockermeyer from TCU, will allow incoming transfer quarterback Carson Beck to receive better protection than he did at Georgia. Georgia was 41st in 2024 allowing 4.79 TFLs per game and 58th permitting 1.79 sacks per game.

Mauigoa was named honorable mention All-ACC and consensus freshman All-American in 2023. In 2024, Mauigoa earned second-team All-ACC. Earning first-team All-ACC, All-American and most importantly helping Miami win an ACC Championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff are reasonable goals for Mauigoa in 2025.

Mauigoa will embark on his first spring and season without his brother, linebacker Franscico Mauigoa, who hopes to be drafted into the NFL in April. Francis Mauigoa will almost certainly follow a year later. Francis Mauigoa is participating in the NFL Combine Rookie Symposium with Beck and Rueben Bain this week in Indianapolis.