It feels safe to say that former New York Giants center Shaun O'Hara knows a thing or two about legally obstructing an opponent's path. He made 135 starts across his remarkable decade-plus-long NFL career, after all, so his input on the club's rookie offensive lineman, Francis Mauigoa, holds weight.
O'Hara spoke highly of the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 draft during a recent appearance on Inside the Film Room. He loves what Mauigoa put on tape at the University of Miami, and understandably so.
However, what stood out most to O'Hara is just how smooth Mauigoa is — especially for a massive human being.
"I love how athletic [Mauigoa] is for such a big guy," O'Hara stated. "He's such a wide-bodied, big ole presence, but he's super athletic. You rarely see him on the ground."
Giants legend Shaun O'Hara is blown away by Francis Mauigoa
Now that's what we call a glowing endorsement. O'Hara repeatedly mentioned Mauigoa's hips and how he keeps them "the squarest [for] the longest" compared to anyone from this year's class of offensive tackles.
Mauigoa, aka "Sisi," parlays being a mountain of a man with a strong base to maintain good contact balance. He combines eye-popping physical traits with a high football IQ and vast experience to protect the quarterback and open rushing lanes. Put two and two together, and it's easy to see why O'Hara is enamored with the 2025 Consensus All-American.
Sometimes, it's not about what people say about you, but who's doing the talking. There's been plenty of buzz surrounding Mauigoa since the Giants called his name in April. O'Hara, a three-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion during his time with the franchise, is notably the latest to board the hype train.
Despite kicking inside to guard early on, many see Mauigoa as the long-term replacement for veteran right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor. In the meantime, though, the two can coexist and help keep second-year signal-caller Jaxson Dart clean and upright. The positional versatility is part of what makes the 21-year-old such an exciting young addition.
A fluid mover with the power to maul his way into the second level, Mauigoa is a stalwart. The Samoan star's consistency and talent were on full display with the Hurricanes, and New York is hoping those traits translate to the pros. He was rightfully featured on The Athletic's "Freaks List series" ($), which "chronicles the strongest, fastest and most physical players in college football."
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