Miami Hurricanes OL Francis Mauigoa at ACC Media Day: I feel the same energy with Carson Beck as I did with Cam Ward

The Miami Hurricanes are expected to have one of the top offensive lines in the nation, backed up by Pro Football Focus ranking the group No. 8.

The No. 2 overall offensive lineman in the nation, per PFF’s Max Chadwick? That’s Francis Mauigoa. As noted, he was “the only tackle in the FBS last year with two or fewer sacks/hits allowed on 500-plus pass-blocking snaps.”

So yeah, expectations are heaped up on Mauigoa as he enters Year 3 starting at Miami. What is he working on to still get better?

“For me it’s just keep working at everything,” he said. “There’s a saying that practice makes improvement, not perfect. So if I can improve every day on my craft, that’s all I need.”

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Mauigoa says he’s currently measuring 6-6 and 335 pounds. He is part of a line that has four returning starters plus TCU starting center transfer James Brockermeyer. By the way, those four returning starters are the ONLY returning starters on this side of the ball from a year ago.

“We’re a team that likes to work hard,” Mauigoa said. “For the O line we like to set the tone for the whole team, set the standard. Set the standard for the team. We’re the type of guys that go out there and try to dominate everybody.”

The losses are LT/LG Jalen Rivers and center Zach Carpenter. Returning along with Mauigoa (and the addition of Brockermeyer) is LT Markel Bell, LG Matthew McCoy and RG Anez Cooper, and Ryan Rodriguez started game 1 a year ago before going out injured and could start over McCoy this year (to be determined in fall camp).

“With coach (Alex) Mirabal, every year is going to be a good year,” Mauigoa said. “This guy will drive you everywhere you go. To be able to come back with Anez and Markel, have James, Matt McCoy and Ryan Rodriguez, it’s awesome. We get to do this thing again.”

Of note: Mauigoa is the only returning member of the team who was on the first or second All-ACC team (second team pick) last year.

Given the addition of QB Carson Beck and what should be a solid 1-2-3 punch at running back with Mark Fletcher, Jordan Lyle and power back CharMar Brown, there’s plenty of potential for strong protection and a solid run game in Shannon Dawson’s offense. That would be a big starting point with Cam Ward gone.

“He comes ready every practice that we have,” Mauigoa said. “He’s very open-minded. He’s a very special guy just like Cam Ward last year, I feel the same energy with Carson Beck.”

Mauigoa said he texted Beck when he chose Miami that “I’m not going to let anyone touch (him).”

He adds that “The running game, our offensive linemen work on the motto that `We run the ball, that we can run the ball, pass the ball – if we have a running game we can pass the ball.’ That’s sort of our mindset on the offensive line.”

As for Mauigoa’s background? He’s a former 5-star out of IMG Academy and had a stellar true freshman season in 2023, earning All-ACC honorable mention honors after starting every game at right tackle. Then he took a nice jump up this past season. In 842 reps he graded out at a solid 71.1 percent overall per Pro Football Focus. That included a 68.0 run block grade (highest of the OL starters on the team) and 73.5 pass block grade. Mauigoa allowed just one sack all year in 2024 per PFF.

The idea now is to be even better after the work he’s put in this offseason.

And that he’ll help Miami to even bigger things off last year’s 10-win season.

FRANCIS MAUIGOA PRESS CONFERENCE Q&A

Q. Sisi, you have come in from day one and been an absolute stalwart at the right tackle position. Traditionally when we see somebody dominate there, there’s normally a move to left tackle. What’s going on with your decision to stay at right tackle or is that what the team needs and is best for the team?

FRANCIS MAUIGOA: Yeah, Coach Mirabal has done a great job with us practicing at all five positions, and I feel like for me it’s just whatever you need me to play. I’m more of a team player more than anything. I’ll play whatever position you want me to play in just for the team to succeed.

Q. The O-line has been special throughout the years, but what makes the O-line so special this year?

FRANCIS MAUIGOA: Like Coach Cristobal touched on, we’re a team that likes to hard work, and for the O-line, we like to set the tone for the whole team. We like to set the standard, as Coach Mirabal always pounds on us every day to set the standard for the team, and we’re the type of guys that go out there and try to dominate everybody, even on our D-line side. That’s how — iron sharpens iron.

Q. It’s been evident that your family has played a major role in your football career and had a major impact, including your brother transferring to Miami to suit up with you guys. How important has that aspect been to you on and off the field?

FRANCIS MAUIGOA: You know, it’s very special because me and my brother has been together for the rest of my whole childhood. We’ve been together since back home, coming from home to my freshman year in high school to San Bernardino, California. We’ve been together basically my whole career.

To be able to get that time to play again, it’s very special because we live together, and having that bond on the field, we push each other to be the best that we can. Him playing on the defensive side, me playing on the offensive side, I see some stuff that he needs to work on, he sees some stuff that I need to work on, and that’s what we talk about every day when we get back to the house.

So yeah, it’s very special to me.

Q. Have you had a chance to get Carson kind of up to date with the big-time rivalry between Miami and Florida State?

FRANCIS MAUIGOA: I think he already knew. I think he already knew. He comes ready every practice that we have. He’s very open minded. He’s very out there. He’s a very special guy, just like Cam Ward last year. I feel the same energy with Carson Beck.

Q. With Carson now at the helm, what differences do you expect there to be between him and Cam Ward, and what kind of adjustment to his play style will look like for you, if any?

FRANCIS MAUIGOA: Shoot, there’s no difference to me. I do my job to the best that I can. If I’ve got to block this guy 10 seconds for him to make a play, I’ll do that, just like the same as last year. I’ll do whatever it takes for us to succeed. That’s the mentality not for me but the whole O-lineman group.

Q. Total offense last year, top in the country. How does this offense of Miami get even better in your opinion for the season?

FRANCIS MAUIGOA: For me, we strive to get better every year. Every season — every off-season we work to get better at something. We practice hard every time that we get a chance to. We’re just trying to be the best that we can be. The stats don’t even matter to us. It’s being able to be out there and being able to be the best you can be, not only as a player but as a character as well. So yeah.

Q. Your name doesn’t give us the indication that your nickname would be Sisi, so where does Sisi come from?

FRANCIS MAUIGOA: Sisi is my Samoan name, so my full Samoan name is Falangisisi, which shortens to Sisi. Most of my family and friends call my Sisi, but at school teachers call me Francis. I feel at home, so I try to make everybody call me Sisi.