2026 NFL Scouting Report: Francis Mauigoa

Prospect Summary:

Mauigoa was a star recruit and one of the top players in the nation. After choosing the Hurricanes, Mauigoa has been a starting tackle the past three seasons. Mauigoa was a very effective player in 2025, opening holes for Mark Fletcher and protecting quarterback Carson Beck during the Hurricanes’ march through the college football playoffs.

In pass protection, Mauigoa showed improvement and became a reliable protector in his final season. Mauigoa has natural strength, and his ability to sustain blocks is superb. When Mauigoa gets his hands on defenders, they are done and have zero ability to get a second effort. Mauigoa has a strong anchor to stop bull rushes, and power rushers really struggle to get any kind of pressure against him. Mauigoa could use some development for taking on speed rushers, and that is why some scouts feel he might be best moving inside. He sometimes is too shallow in his drop, and that leads to him reaching or lunging after rushers. He needs to improve his ability to keep his feet moving. He could stand to improve his hand placement in pass sets as well. Mauigoa is a talented player, so some of these issues could be improved with NFL coaching.

In the ground game, Mauigoa is nasty at the point of attack and a real force. He has the sheer power to reset the line of scrimmage and knock defenders backwards. With brute force, Mauigoa can drive them off the ball and create movement for his back. With a developed upper body, Mauigoa has the strength to control, turn, and manipulate defenders at the point of attack. With violence and tenacity, drive will finish off opponents and pound them into the turf. While drive is a mauler, he is able to hit blocks on the second level and is able to kick out to the perimeter. Mauigoa is quick as a puller and getting out on perimeter runs. He moves well in space to hit blocks in the open field and is excellent on screens. With a serious mean streak, Mauigoa blocks through the whistle and is very physical. Mauigoa is an asset in short-yardage situations and can win blocks over defenders even when they know what is coming. He should be an asset as a run blocker in the NFL quickly in his pro career.

Multiple team sources feel that Mauigoa might be a better fit at guard in the NFL. However, he will be drafted as a right tackle. The team that likes him enough to take him will project him to be a starting tackle, and if he is unable to block on the edge, then they will kick him inside to guard as a Plan B. In the 2026 NFL Draft, Mauigoa looks like a first-round pick, and he could go in the top-20.