On Saturday, November 11, 2023, at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis (13) gets sacked by Miami Hurricanes linebacker Francisco Mauigoa (51). The play occurs in the fourth quarter.
AL DIAZ @MiamiHerald.com adiaz This past weekend, University of Miami football fans received their football news in a smorgasbord fashion: a star who could have gone pro but declared he had “unfinished business” and would “run this back” in 2024, along with a little bit of this on offense and a little bit of that on defense.
UM middle linebacker Francisco “Kiko” Mauigoa wrote on social media Saturday night, “I want to thank Coach Cristobal and the coaching staff for giving me the opportunity and love to be part of this prestigious program.” On the platform X. I express my gratitude to Cane Nation for their love and support throughout this season.
After much prayer and discussion with my family, Cane Nation, let’s run this back one more time and keep moving forward! The 6-3, 230-pound junior transfer from Washington State, Mauigo, is enjoying an outstanding debut season with the Canes (7-5). The Canes will play Rutgers (6-6) on December 28 in the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium to close off 2023. That news was significant enough to counterbalance the less than stellar (though partially comprehensible) news regarding third-leading receiver Colbie Young that was provided by various outlets and by skilled center Matt Lee.
Lee, a fifth-year redshirt junior at 6-4 and 295 pounds who transferred from UCF prior to the season, declared on Saturday afternoon that he is “declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft.” And Young is using the transfer portal. Young is a 6-5, 215-pound junior who is in his second season at UM. He started his career at Lackawanna [Pennsylvania] College.
Lee commented, “Thank you UCF and University of Miami for an amazing five years.” #Chargeon #Canes #Go. Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN projects Lee to be the fifth-best center prospect in the draft.
Out of 130 FBS teams, the Hurricanes’ offense is ranked 26th in the country (441.2 yards per game). Its scoring offense is 35th (32.1 points per game), rushing offense ranks 44th (176.8), and passing offense ranks 36th (264.4). With a total of 14 sacks allowed and 1.17 per game, Miami is No. 14 in the country.
Javion Cohen, a left guard for UM, has previously declared he will enter the draft. Backup centers Luis “Lou” Cristobal, a fifth-year UM redshirt junior center and a transfer from Georgia State who is the nephew of coach Mario Cristobal and the son of former UM player Luis Sr., and third-year sophomore Ryan Rodriguez are expected to play in the bowl. LARGE-BODIED WR The largest-framed receiver at UM, Young is logging into the transfer portal. He finished his junior season with 11 starts in 12 games and caught 47 passes for 563 yards and five touchdowns in ‘23 after finishing with 32 catches for 376 yards and five touchdowns last year.
Though some think their status may depend on the quarterback the Hurricanes select from the portal, UM’s top two receivers, slot receiver Xavier Restrepo (74 catches for 993 yards and five touchdowns) and outside man Jacolby George (55 for 851 and a team-leading eight touchdowns), are still on the roster.
Fourth-year junior quarterback Tyler Van Dyke previously entered the transfer portal, leaving UM with only one healthy starter in sophomore Jacurri Brown, who will play his first snaps of 2023 in the Pinstripe Bowl. The Canes also have a class of 2024 quarterback commit in three-star Judd Anderson of Warner Robins (Georgia) High.
Freshman Hurricanes quarterback Emory Williams is recovering from a broken left arm sustained last month at Florida State. MAUIGOA GLOWS As for Mauigoa, his return should be significant for the Canes, who are thriving defensively under first-year coordinator Lance Guidry.
Miami is ranked 26th in total defense (324.1 yards allowed per game), 10th in rushing defense (97.1), 13th in sacks (35), 18th in tackles for loss (83) and 39th in scoring defense (22.1). Second-team All-ACC honoree Mauigoa is second on the team with 70 tackles, but could easily become the team leader after the bowl, as safety James Williams, who has declared for the draft, has 73. Mauigoa leads his teammates by a landslide with 17 tackles for loss, is tied for a team-leading 7 1/2 sacks, has one interception, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and seven quarterback hurries. His return will bolster a linebacker unit that includes second-year sophomore talent and Miami Central alum Wesley Bissainthe, a nine-game starter.
Mauigoa is the older brother of true freshman right tackle Francis Mauigoa, a former five-star recruit who was named this month by The Athletic as a first-team freshman All-American.
The brothers are from Ili’ili in American Somoa. Francisco played at Tafuna High School. Francis graduated from IMG Academy in Bradenton. “Leader. Elite Teammate. Will be Best in the Country,’’ Cristobal posted on X after the elder Mauigoa posted his news.
“CANE4LIFE.’’ RECRUITING NEWS The other positive weekend news was a Saturday commitment from class of 2024 four-star/three-star defensive lineman Kendall Jackson of Gainesville F.W. Buchholz High. Jackson, listed as 6-5 and 220 pounds, was formerly committed to the Florida Gators.
The On3 recruiting site’s industry ranking has Jackson as a four-star prospect and the nation’s No. 40 defensive lineman and 46th best player in Florida, regardless of position.
The 247Sports site has Jackson, who plays defensive end but also can play inside, as a three-star prospect. The Hurricanes now have 28 commits for the 2024 recruiting class and are ranked fifth nationally by 247Sports and seventh by On3. The early signing period is Dec. 20-22, when most pledges sign their letters of intent.
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