National outlet gives puzzling rating for Miami Hurricanes star that NFL Draft analysts would likely laugh at
Miami Hurricanes OT Francis Mauigoa should be one of the first names called in the 2026 NFL Draft next April. The Canes' right tackle has been a rock on the right side of the offensive line, and one more strong season should all but lock him into the top part of the first round. With […]
Miami Hurricanes OT Francis Mauigoa should be one of the first names called in the 2026 NFL Draft next April. The Canes' right tackle has been a rock on the right side of the offensive line, and one more strong season should all but lock him into the top part of the first round.
With that being said, Mauigoa found himself in a not-so-lofty location on a recent list of the 50 best players in college football. Pro Football Focus put Mauigoa as the 41st best player in the sport.
This is what PFF had to say about Mauigoa at 41:
Francis Mauigoa has held down the right tackle spot for the Hurricanes since his true freshman season, and he took a clear step forward in 2024. The former five-star recruit allowed just two combined sacks and hits on 534 pass-blocking snaps as a sophomore — the fewest among FBS tackles with 500-plus pass-blocking snaps.
Mauigoa also posted a 71.4 run-blocking grade since 2023, tied for fourth among ACC tackles. While there’s still room for technical refinement, he enters the 2025 season as one of the top candidates to be the first offensive tackle selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. – Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick, PFF
This is what PFF claims it used for criteria for its rankings:
Using PFF’s exclusive data and grading, we’ve identified the most dominant and valuable players in the country, based not on hype but on proven production and projection. Whether it’s a future first-round quarterback or a breakout edge rusher primed for a monster year, these are the 50 names every college football fan needs to know this fall.
This seems a little bit foggy to me, at least as it relates to "projection" being included as well as being the "most dominant and valuable". PFF has an offensive grade of 70.7 for Mauigoa, a pass block mark of 72.2, and a run block mark of 68.1 in 2024. Those are solid but unspectacular numbers.
However, as far as "projection" and upside, it's hard to see many players with more of that than Mauigoa. Aside from Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith, few players have the NFL ceiling that Mauigoa is projected by experts to have.
Mauigoa will look to have a strong junior season this fall to try to help the Canes take one more step and reach the playoffs while also convincing scouts with lottery picks that he should be at the top of their boards. And it won't hurt to have a little bit of extra motivation to try to do that.
