Miami Hurricanes 50-1 Countdown: Ranking the top 50 post-spring players … No 9. Francisco Mauigoa
CaneSport is breaking down the top 50 post-spring players on the Miami roster, a list that doesn’t include any post-spring roster additions. Today we break down No. 9, Francisco Mauigoa.
NO. 9 MIAMI MLB FRANCISCO MAUIGOA
Why he’s No. 9
Four of the top nine on this list are either transfers from this year or last year, which speaks to the returning roster that Mario Cristobal inherited when he took over the program. And Mauigoa shot up this list after we saw his performance this spring (he arrived as a Washington State transfer). He was physical, made plays sideline to sideline and looked like a perfect fit for what Lance Guidry wants to do in an attacking style of defense. It’s also worth noting that we have Mauigoa one spot ahead of OLB Wesley Bissainthe. That’s a sign that, with two linebackers in the top 10, this position will be a lot better than a year ago when there were struggles at this spot. The background of the 6-3, 230-pounder: A former 3-star prospect in the Class of 2021 out of American Samoa, Mauigoa has two years of eligibility remaining and had 60 tackles, 5.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks this past season as a starter, also forcing three fumbles (tied for the Pac-12 lead) with an interception. That interception was, interestingly enough, against Mario Cristobal’s former team – he took it back 95 yards for a TD against Oregon Sept. 24. As a freshman in 2021 he started twice and had 17 tackles. His Pro Football Focus grades? In 457 reps last season he graded out at a solid 75.7 percent (70 is considered good). He had a 74.1 run defense grade, 69.9 tackle grade, 64.6 pass rush grade and 76.3 cover grade. So all around pretty solid. He also was noted by PFF with five QB hurries and nine missed tackles. Mauigoa only played 58 reps in 2021 as a freshman and graded out at 43.3 overall.
What he needs to do to move up this list
Miami didn’t bring in Mauigoa to sit on the bench, and he showed this spring that he’s a better option than returning MLB starter Corey Flagg. Flagg is undersized, and while Flagg’s a two-year starter he just was never a real bigtime playmaker. Mauigoa has length and physicality (four inches taller than Flagg), something Miami desperately needed at the position. A question, though, is if Mauigoa’s a guy who can really be a difference-maker in games at the Miami level of opponent. He was good enough at Washington State but wasn’t a true star. And the Canes need to have a star making plays in the middle of this defense. So if he wants to move up this list we need to see some of the game-changing plays the linebackers haven’t been able to consistently make on the field in recent seasons. Of note is UM also recently added KJ Cloyd to the mix – he was a backup MLB at Louisville but has a long history playing for LB coach Derek Nicholson and could factor in.
Realistic season objective
We see Mauigoa starting and in the 70 tackles range with double-digit TFL in Miami’s system under Lance Guidry. He really impressed us this spring. There is some young talent on the current roster, but Miami needed a more veteran playmaking presence. So this was a great transfer portal addition by Mario Cristobal & Co. And, of course, Mauigoa’s brother is 5-star OL Francis Mauigoa who is also expected to make a big impact. As for Francisco? We’ll give the last word to Miami LB coach Derek Nicholson. He said this spring that “Francisco is very, very consistent. He’s very instinctive, has very good awareness. Really good football player, active, athletic. He does a lot of good things. It’s hard to find a lot of weakness. Really good football player, better person. … He’ll have a great year.”
The post Miami Hurricanes 50-1 Countdown: Ranking the top 50 post-spring players … No 9. Francisco Mauigoa appeared first on On3.
