One of the top 2023 football prospects has made the University of Hawaii the first stop on what is expected to be a lengthy recruiting process.

On Tuesday, Francis Mauigoa came away impressed from an unofficial UH visit, during which he and his mother Telesia met the coaches and academic counselors, went through a presentation, and toured the campus.

“I enjoyed it a lot,” said Mauigoa, a 6-foot-6, 325-pound offensive tackle. “The presentation they had, I really liked it. It was more than I expected. They really stood out to me. The O-line coach had this thing that stood out to me: the mentality and how to dominate (opponents) with strength mentality.”

Telesia said: “What a great experience. The coaches were very informative, very kind. They gave us the best information we asked for about UH and the program, and what makes a champ a champ. It was a great experience.”

Mauigoa was born and reared in American Samoa. As a freshman, he moved to San Bernardino, Calif., to attend Aquinas Catholic High School. But as the pandemic heightened, he returned to American Samoa. This year, he enrolled at IMG Academy, a school in Bradenton, Fla., whose football team competes nationally. IMG is the 2020 national champion.

Mauigoa said IMG offers highly regarded athletic training and a strong academic curriculum. Mauigoa lives in an on-campus dorm. He said the campus features a lake “where you can go fishing. It’s pretty cool.”

Brandon Huffman, a national recruiting analyst for 247Sports, wrote that “Mauigoa is the highest-rated Polynesian player in the 2023 class.”

Mauigoa already has been invited to play in the 2023 Polynesian Bowl.

“I was really excited for that invitation,” Mauigoa said. “The Polynesian Bowl is something I was really looking forward to playing in. It’s part of the culture. It’s part of the tradition. I wanted to be one of the kids from the islands to play in it.”

Sia and her husband were standout volleyball players. “They chose to take another route,” Telesia said of her sons. “They love the contact, and football is such a big thing back home.”

The 247Sports site reported Mauigoa already has received 21 offers. Mauigoa said UH is “most definitely” a consideration. Penei Pavihi, Steven Fiso, Blessman Ta‘ala and Maurice Ta‘ala are among the Warriors whom Mauigoa considers as close friends.

“We’re just so blessed,” Telesia said. “That’s what we told our boys. Being athletic, put that to good use. Use it as a vessel to earn these scholarships and get a free education. All they have to do is do well in that sport, study, and stay focused.”