It was fitting that Luke and Tom Stoltman -- the world's strongest brothers — announced from Scotland the Jets' fifth-round selection of Miami LB Francisco "Kiko" Mauigoa. Mauigoa, a strong, rugged, physical linebacker, took a long road to the NFL, which began in a territory thousands of miles from the US mainland.
"I was born and raised in American Samoa, went to Cali for my junior year of high school just for exposure of high school football and [to] get some offers," Francisco Mauigoa, 22, said on draft weekend. "I first got my offer in Cali and then I went back home when Covid struck and then committed to Washington State. So, it was a rough ride, it was a rough journey, but the people I spent my lifetime with was worth the wait and worth the journey. So it was amazing."
Starting in the American Samoa, Mauigoa attended Tafuna HS and played QB for two seasons. He and his younger brother, Francis, joined a host family in San Bernardino, CA, and Kiko played both ways at Aquinas Catholic HS. The boys returned home, and he played his senior season at Tafuna before he and Francis transferred to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. Washington State was Mauigoa's lone Power 5 offer and he became their 12th-ranked recruit in the 2021 class. He appeared in 25 games for Washington State from 2021-22, recording 77 tackles, 6 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 3 FF, 2 PDs and 1 INT.
Entering the transfer portal following the 2022 season, Mauigoa was contacted by Miami's Mario Cristobal and he and Francis committed to play for the 'Canes.
"He was the first to reach out to me, and when I went on my visit, like I said, it just felt like family," Mauigoa said. "I just felt like I fit in, and it just allowed me to play fast, and the type of defense we ran allowed me to play fast and physical downhill."
Mauigoa, who wore the green dot as Miami's middle linebacker, was a stat stuffer in his two seasons in Coral Gables. Starting 26 games in 2023-24, Mauigoa totaled 178 tackles, 29 TFL, 9.5 sacks, 10 PDs, 3 FF and 2 INT.
"Sideline-to-sideline-type dude," Mauigoa said of his play style. "Just create turnovers -- that's the best way to win games is to create turnovers and have the offense get the ball as much as possible throughout the whole game. And fast and physical, come downhill, make tackles in the backfield and try to create chaos in the backfield."
Bucky Brooks of NFL Network said: "Always active, on the second-level find a way to get to the ball. Just has a great feel, instincts that shows up on tape over and over and over again."
See photos of the 2025 NFL Draft class, including T Armand Membou (Missouri), TE Mason Taylor (LSU), CB Azareye'h Thomas (Florida State), WR Arian Smith (Georgia), DB Malachi Moore (Alabama), LB Francisco Mauigoa (Miami) and DE Tyler Baron (Miami).
Missouri offensive lineman Armand Membou (79) sets up at the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
LSU tight end Mason Taylor (86) runs a reception for a gain before being tackled by UCLA defensive back Ramon Henderson (11) during the second half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Florida State defensive back Azareye'h Thomas (20) sets up for a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) runs against Florida during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Alabama DB Malachi Moore walks off the field postgame.
Miami's Francisco Mauigoa during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord (6) reaches for his fumble while tackled by Miami defensive lineman Tyler Baron (9) during the first half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Missouri offensive lineman Armand Membou (79) walks up to the line of scrimmage during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
LSU tight end Mason Taylor (86) runs a reception for a gain before being tackled by UCLA defensive back Ramon Henderson (11) during the second half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Missouri offensive lineman Armand Membou (79) sets up at the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) runs in for a touchdown after a catch during the first half of an NCAA college football game against UAB, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Missouri offensive lineman Armand Membou (79) sets up at the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Washington State linebacker Francisco Mauigoa gestures during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado State, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Missouri guard Armand Membou, left, in action during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Buffalo Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
LSU tight end Mason Taylor (86) celebrates a first down in the first half of an NCAA college football game against UCLA in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Florida State defensive back Azareye'h Thomas (20) breaks up a pass intended for Syracuse wide receiver Damien Alford (5) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) sets up for a play against Florida during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Florida State defensive back Azareye'h Thomas (20) sets up for a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) makes a catch in front of Tennessee defensive back Brandon Turnage (8) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022 in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
LSU tight end Mason Taylor (86) is tripped by Southern California safety Kamari Ramsey, bottom, during the first half of an NCAA college football game Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) makes the catch against Ohio State during the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA college football semifinal playoff game, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) celebrates after overtime over Texas in overtime of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
LSU tight end Mason Taylor (86) leaps over UCLA defensive back Jaylin Davies (6) for a gain during the second half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Florida State defensive back Azareye'h Thomas participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, February 28, 2025. (Brooke Sutton via AP)
Ball State quarterback Kadin Semonza throws the ball under pressure from Miami defensive lineman Tyler Baron (9) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 in Miami. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
Florida A&M running back Thad Franklin Jr. (23) is stopped short of the goal line by Miami linebacker Francisco Mauigoa, center, during the first half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) runs past Miami defensive lineman Tyler Baron after a reception during the second half of the Pop Tarts Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Azareye'h Thomas (20) follows a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tennessee defensive lineman Tyler Baron (9) returns a fumble for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against UConn Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
LSU tight end Mason Taylor (86) carries in the first half of an NCAA college football game against UCLA in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Louisville quarterback Jack Plummer (13) scrambles as he looks for a teammate under pressure from Miami linebacker Francisco Mauigoa (51) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Alabama DB Malachi Moore breaks up a pass during a matchup with the Auburn Tigers.
Alabama DB Malachi Moore hypes up the crowd during a game against the Auburn Tigers.
Washington State linebacker Francisco Mauigoa (51) lines up for a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Idaho, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Miami's Francisco Mauigoa during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
North Carolina State's MJ Morris (7) passes the ball past Miami's Francisco Mauigoa (51) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
West's Brady Cook (12), of Missouri, scrambles out of the pocket as East's Tyler Baron (99), of Miami, pursues in the first half of the East West Shrine Bowl NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Mauigoa will join a linebacker unit that features Jamien Sherwood and Quincy Williams. He could slide into a role as Sherwood's backup at the Mike.
"Kiko's a smart, heady, aggressive, physical linebacker that's going to get a chance to go in and compete for a linebacker spot," said HC Aaron Glenn. "Plus, he has special teams value."
Mauigoa (6-2, 233) says he would embrace a special teams role under coordinator Chris Banjo.
"I played special teams my whole college career no matter what -- I was playing defense and special teams," Mauigoa said. "I was playing punt, I was playing kickoff, kickoff return when I was in my early years of college, and I have no problems with it. I mean, I love the game of football. I just want to help out the team as much as possible, so being on the field as a special teamer or a defensive player, glory to God because I get to live out my dream, and it's just another opportunity to play football."
