When Francis Mauigoa suits up for the Miami (Florida) football team, he brings more than strength, speed and size. He brings family. He brings faith. And he brings a purpose rooted in the islands of American Samoa.
"Coming from American Samoa, we don't get as many opportunities as we get in the mainland," he said. "One of those opportunities is continuing your education in college. This has been a blessing because without football, I don't know if I'd be going to college. It wouldn't be possible for me. I wouldn't be here."
Raised in 'Ili'ili, a coastal village of about 3,000 people, Mauigoa grew up where football gear was improvised, opportunities were rare and dreams often stayed dreams. But love for the game ran deep, and Francis chased that love across the Pacific Ocean.
"That's how bad we wanted to play," he said.
Specifically, that hunger led him to the IMG Academy in Florida as a high schooler. As a coveted five-star recruit, he selected Miami, where he started every game as an offensive lineman in 2023 and earned Freshman All-America honors. As a sophomore, he followed up as a starter on the No. 1 offense in the nation in terms of points and yards per game, receiving second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors.
Mauigoa's story is about more than a rise through the ranks, however. It's about using that platform to give back, to lead and to uplift others like him.
A journey rooted in family and culture
Mauigoa didn't choose Miami by himself. His entire family was part of the process. On the eve of signing day, the Mauigoas gathered in Hawaii.
Parents, brothers and siblings discussed not just what school would be best for Francis, but what place could unite the family. Francis' older brother, Francisco, a standout at linebacker for Washington State, planned to transfer to the school his brother chose.
"A family decision," Francis said. "Because it affected everyone."
Their parents, Fa'alialia and Telesia, left American Samoa and now live minutes from campus. Church, dinners and postgame hugs are part of daily life for the Mauigoas.
"It means a lot to have them here and have their support," Francis said. "It really boosts your confidence."
Francis and his older brother Francisco, a linebacker at Miami, launched a campaign benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities, blending college football with community service. (Photo courtesy of Miami)
Francis and Francisco were anchors on opposite sides of the ball and, in times of adversity, each other's biggest supporters. When Miami lost a 2023 game to rival Florida State, Francis stood in the back of the pressroom while Francisco answered questions from reporters.
"That's what a brother does, just being there for those moments with you, whether it's a loss or a win," Francisco said in a Miami athletics feature story on the pair. "You know you've always got people to fall back on."
The brothers have pushed each other constantly. At practice. In workouts. In faith.
They also have served together — literally. The pair launched a Miami-themed merchandise campaign, with 100% of profits going to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida. That act of service, one of multiple promotional efforts tied to the organization, is deeply tied to the Samoan value of "tautua," or service, and reflects their intent to use their visibility to lift others.
"For us, being able to be partnered with the Ronald McDonald House means a lot to us because we want to make sure we help out and (are) using our platform to our full advantage to help out those in need," Francisco said in an Instagram video.
Preparing for what's next
In March, Francis attended the NCAA Elite Student-Athlete Symposium for Football in Indianapolis. While his brother Francisco chased 40-yard dash times at the NFL Combine with other 2025 draft prospects, Francis and 17 other standouts gathered a few blocks away to study leadership, financial literacy and preparing for life as a professional.
"One of the main lessons that I learned was you have to be wise with your decisions," he said. "Everything is up to you."
At the event, he dove into sessions on the scouting process, film study and media training. He learned what NFL teams look for — not just on tape, but in how you carry yourself, how you answer questions and how you treat the people around you.
The experience affirmed what Francis already believes: success in football, like in life, requires humility, character and preparation.
"Being drafted is a blessing. But it's just one step," he said. "It's about staying in the league and making it count."
When his opportunity comes, Francis will have his brother to rely on for advice, as well. The New York Jets selected Francisco as a fifth-round pick in this year's draft.
At the 2025 NCAA Elite Student-Athlete Symposium for Football, Francis Mauigoa gained insight into the NFL draft process, financial literacy and the importance of character. (Photo by Kylann Scheidt / NCAA)
Proudly Samoan
Francis understands the significance of his presence at Miami. On a campus thousands of miles from his home island, he embraces the opportunity to be both a force on the field and a cultural bridge off it.
"They don't meet many Samoans in Miami," he said. "I'm learning from the Latino community and other communities here, and they're learning from mine."
His worldview is shaped by his roots. He carries with him a Samoan saying that roughly translates into, "You can easily identify someone by the way they talk and the way they walk."
"Being someone who grew up in a Samoan household, I was taught to respect everyone, from the elders all the way to the youngest, no matter what age or what ethnicity. I was taught to be humble," Francis said. "So being Samoan, it built who I am, and it formed me to be this type of person that I am today."
That foundation is also at the heart of his academic work. For a school project this academic year, Francis researched the challenges athletes face in American Samoa, from lack of exposure to equipment shortages. He remembers kids sharing mouthpieces, cutting slippers to make knee and thigh pads, and walking home barefoot — realities he hopes to change in the future.
"I'm working on ways to help solve that," he said.
He hopes to inspire other island athletes to be proud of who they are, to chase their dreams and to never be afraid of standing out.
"We're not just islanders," he said. "We're here with a purpose. We have goals. We want to show that we belong."
And for those unsure where to start, Francis makes it simple.
"Just be yourself. Be humble," he said. "You can even reach out to me. I answer all of my Instagram DMs. If you need help, reach out."
