Right Tackle Francis Mauigoa is a Competitive Try Hard

I had to push myself to grind through 13 games of University of Miami right tackle Francis Mauigoa.

He’s listed as the No. 4 consensus prospect by NFL Mock Draft Database. No. 4!

Pro Football Network has him as their No. 1 prospect in the entire draft!

ESPN’s Matt Miller has him at No. 2!

Between the time the 2025 NFL Draft ended and July 12, CBS, Draftwire, SI, Fox Sports, USA Today, NBC Sports, 33rd Team, and Bleacher Report all had him ranked in the top-10.

I was expecting great things.

Nope.

He gives a strong effort, but there’s NOTHING dominant about Mauigoa on his game film.

I mean NOTHING.

Pass Protection

It’s all about footwork at the offensive tackle position in the NFL. Offensive tackles have to be able to keep up with the best pass rushers in the world.

How is Mauigoa’s footwork?

Average

His lateral foot speed is ordinary as he slides out to protect the perimeter of the pocket. That alone is a serious problem. To compound the issue, Mauigoa tends to stop moving his feet. Instead, he likes to turn, open the back gate of the pocket, and chase pass rushers. That’s not pretty looking.

I got the sense that the Hurricanes’ coaching staff also acknowledged this issue by all the help they gave Mauigoa out on the perimeter of the pocket.

40 times.

That’s how many times they helped him in pass protection with a double team.

Run blocking

Mauigoa is an unpolished mauler in this department.

He pushes.

He shoves.

Sometimes it’s enough. Sometimes it’s not.

He loves to drive defenders into the turf if he has it lined up just right, and he’s a hit-and-miss when it comes to pulling and going further downfield in space.

Lacks control of blocks

The thing that struck me most when studying Mauigoa on game film is how out of control he looked as a pass and run blocker.

The pass rushers and run defenders looked like they were more in control than he was.

Mauigoa was too vulnerable in pass protection, regularly struggling to sustain his run blocks.

Compensates

Mauigoa’s number one trait is his effort level. He does his best to offset his limitations by giving it his all.

He’ll chase pass rushers and push them past his quarterback’s backside. He’ll shove run defenders with all of his strength.

Mauigoa keeps at it, and he ends up winning a lot at the college level because of it.

NFL Board

Mauigoa looks like a starting right guard in the NFL or a sixth offensive lineman who can play guard and swing out to right tackle in an emergency.

He looks and plays like a guard trying to hold down the fort at right tackle.

Mauigoa’s playing style reminds me of former Bears and Jets offensive guard Todd Burger (UDFA Penn State). Burger played from 1994-1998.

#61 Francis Mauigoa 6-foot-6, 315 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Summer Grade: Third-Round (I would select him)

Projected by NFL Mock Draft Database to be a First-Round prospect as of July 23, 2025

2024 game film evaluated: Iowa State, Syracuse, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Duke, FSU, Louisville, CAL, Virginia Tech, South Florida, Ball State, Florida A&M, and Florida (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Scrappy blocker. Stout build. Tough. Has an aggressive streak. Flashes a fast first step. Hands in ready position with good placement at the point of attack in pass protection. Active. Battles. Average athletic ability. He’s at his best when the back door of the pocket is unchallenged and he can keep pass rushers in front of him. Inconsistent versus “X” stunts and blitzes. Inconsistent positional run blocker who works at it. I counted 75 times his guy ended up by the pile right after the stop.

What to watch for during the 2025 college football season

1. What does his footwork look like in pass protection?

2. How often does it look like he’s losing control of pass blocks at the backdoor of the pocket?

3. Sustaining run blocks?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. Featured in USA Today. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.