UFL ref interviewed during game on Fox broadcast
UFL ref Gabriel DeLeon interviewed live during Fox broadcast of game
The New York Giants selected offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa 10th overall in the 2026 NFL draft, aiming to enhance their offensive line's size and physicality. Mauigoa is eager to contribute and lead by example.
New York Giants offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa puts on his Giants hat after being drafted. | Getty Images
The New York Giants were ecstatic to land Miami tackle Francis Mauigoa 10th overall in the 2026 NFL draft.
The Giants wanted the big mauler to add size and physicality to their offensive line. They got their wish, and Mauigoa has already come in with the mentality of a leader.
āIām going to work my butt off to the standard,ā he said, āand hopefully uplift that standard.ā
Mauigoa certainly seems to share a mentality with right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor.
āHeās a cool guy,ā Mauigoa said. āWeāre excited about each other. Canāt wait to move people.ā
The two will be working closely together. Even though Mauigoa played right tackle in college, heāll be next to Eluemunor at right guard. Fortunately, guard isnāt an unfamiliar position.
āCoach Mirabal (Miami offensive line coach Alex Mirabal) believed in knowing all the positions,ā Mauigoa said. āIt makes sense. If you play all the positions, you make yourself valuable. Also, if you play right tackle, right guard, center, you know everything, you know everybodyās job, and it makes it easier for you versus playing at one position.
Practiced in some practices in the spring ball, fall ā summer workouts. I was practicing at guard.ā
There were some questions as to whether Mauigoa would be better at guard or tackle in the NFL. There are, of course, differences between the two positions. The game is faster inside, but he also doesnāt have as much going to cover.
āI donāt have that much space to work with,ā he said. āPlaying at tackle, you have all the space, where a guard everything happens so fast. Itās not something I really need to work on, itās something that I need to get used to.ā
In what might be an interesting twist of fate, , in preparation for the NFL and the speed of the pro game.
The New York Giants drafted offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa 10th overall.
Francis Mauigoa plays as an offensive lineman for the New York Giants.
The Giants expect Mauigoa to add size and physicality to their offensive line and to uplift team standards.
Francis Mauigoa expressed excitement about joining the Giants and is determined to work hard and lead by example.
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āHeās very smart at what he does,ā Mauigoa said. āJon has put a lot of knowledge of the game into me.One of the things he said to me that stood out to me is the game goes fast. Thereās just level speed to each level. High school, thereās level speed, college is different level speed, and NFL will be top level speed. Every day youāve got to elevate your speed.ā
Mauigoa will get plenty of practice when it comes to playing fast. The Giants have assembled a one of the (if not the)ost athletic defensive fronts in the NFL. That, of course, includes fellow first round pick Arvell Reese.
Reese and Mauigoa are pretty familiar with each other, considering the two faced off when Miami played Ohio State in the College Football Playoffs.
Reese certainly seems to have left an impression.
āI saw this guyās film when we were preparing for them,ā Mauigoa said. āHeās one of the hardest workers, as you can see on the field. Heās always around kicking the ball, and sometimes I slip in some comments to him. Heās definitely going to be one of the top impact [players] on defense.ā
The two were opponents then, but theyāre bonding as teammates now.
āYeah, you know, weāre cool,ā He said. āWeāre buddies. We left the past in the past. Iām the type of player to chase guys. So I chase him down and slip him a comment like, you remember this?ā
Cameras captured a fun moment between the two in the Giantsā locker room the day after they were drafted. They were posing with their jerseys, with Mauigoa smiling while Reese maintained a stone face.
āSmile bro, youāre happy,ā Mauigoa said.
āI am who I am. He is who he is,ā Mauigoa said of the interaction. āWeāre teammates. Weāre teammates. Weāve got to be there for each other and look out for each other. Those type of things, itās just humor. Just trying to bond and be the best teammates that we can be because we came in here together with the mindset to win. If weāre going to do that, weāve got to have a strong bond.ā