Miami football has three early week blue chip official visitors

Offensive tackles Payton Kirkland and Francis Mauigoa on Monday and athlete Robert Stafford on Tuesday are taking their official visits with the Miami football program per 247 Sports. Mauigoa is a five-star prospect and Kirkland and Stafford are rated four-stars.  Miami will have 11 more official visitors beginning Thursday.

Mauigoa is the ninth-rated player, top OT and third in Florida at IMG Academy in the Class of 2023. Prior to enrolling at IMG, Mauigoa played for San Bernardino California Aquinas High School. Mauigoa is originally from ‘Ili’ili, American Samoa. Miami currently has two offensive linemen committed for 2023, one at OT.

Three-star interior OL Antonio Tripp is the second-highest-rated prospect currently committed to the Miami football program for 2023. Miami also has a commitment from three-star OL Frankie Tinilau, who is also Samoan. Miami interior defensive line coach Joe Salave’a is a native Samoan.

Mauigoa is a freakish athlete at 6’5, 330 pounds. Andrew Ivins of 247 Sports reported that Mauigoa has been recorded running a 5.3 40-yard dash on the lasers. As a freshman at Aquinas in 2019, Mauigoa recorded 59 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and three sacks. Mauigoa is the ideal OT at his size.

Kirkland is the 260th ranked player, 25th OT and 54th in Florida in the Class of 2023. Ivins’ scouting report mentions that Kirkland needs to keep improving as a pass blocker and will likely need a few years to rework his body and add core strength. Kirkland is projected as a potential multi-year Power Five starter.

Kirkland is a versatile OL with a future at either guard or tackle. Offensive line coach Alex Mirabal is leading the recruitment for Kirkland and Mauigoa. Salave’a is assisting with the recruitment of Mauigoa. Florida is the current leader for Kirkland. Tennessee has a slight edge over USC for a commitment from Mauigoa.

Stafford is listed as an athlete by 247 Sports and cornerback by On3 which is his likely position in college. The On3 consensus rankings list Stafford as the 157th player, 18th CB and 31st in Florida for 2023. Miami is currently listed by the On3 prediction machine with an 18.3 percent chance for a commitment from Stafford.

Arkansas is the present leader at 34.4 for a Stafford commitment. Stafford previously took an unofficial visit to Miami in April. Kentucky and Oregon received official visits from Stafford earlier this month and he will be in Fayetteville this weekend. Miami does not have a defensive back committed yet for 2023.