Francis Mauigoa's Progress Comes As No Surprise

Now playing for the Miami Hurricanes, big-time recruit Francis Mauigoa has quickly asserted himself and climbed the depth chart to be running with the first team unit at right tackle.

After the last practice, Mauigoa earned praise from offensive line coach Alex Mirabal. He discussed why the talented prospect originally from American Samoa was doing well:

Miami Hurricanes OL Coach @CoachMirabal had some great things to say about freshman tackle @FrancisMauigoa today. Watch the full media session here: https://t.co/bPErxewH79 pic.twitter.com/JbIouYIYZF
— Locked On Canes (@LockedOnCanes) March 30, 2023

“So, if Franics (Mauigoa) is running with the ones, I expect him to be able to do what someone running with the ones needs to be doing,” Mirabal said to the media. “I don’t cut him any slack. You know, he’s swimming. He’s swimming fast and he’s not drowning. He keeps swimming to the point where he’s swimming with the other guys.”

Mirabal’s example of swimming was meant to be related to how much information Mauigoa has consumed and still battled through it. It has been customary for freshmen like Mauigoa to be overwhelmed throughout the history of college football, regardless of how talented they were.

At the college level, it’s about being able to pick up information as fast as possible. All the physical tools will not help a massive 325-pound player like Mauigoa. Mirabal’s comments did give insight into just how intelligent and motivated the freshman has been to date. He's deserved credit for that.

Mirabal’s next point helped to truly define why Mauigoa has overcome obstacles with scheme and techniques so far through the Miami practices.

“He’s got like a sixth sense. He sees things that you as a coach don’t have to tell him. You know, and that’s a gift.”

For the people that saw and paid attention to Mauigoa during his time at IMG Academy, they probably knew he would compete for playing time right away.

He had a different gear when it came to learning and understanding the game of football from observation, as well as taking one-on-one coaching. Francis would ask questions during a drill, and then replicate what was asked of him.

That elite attitude and drive has made him into a possible starter for the Canes right away. It also has another possible outcome that could benefit Miami.

Once a personality and talent like Francis sets the bar that high, others will likely follow. Miami players before that started early in their careers carved out a path by doing the little things in practice and continued them during game day. That’s how a team starts to bond and get better. Francis has set his own example. Great sign for his future, as well as Miami's.

Mauigoa will still need to learn more and more before he’s ready to go out on the field against Miami of Ohio as a starter, but he’s already made a name for himself at The U and it’s been great to see.

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