Q. What have the last 12 hours or so been like for you?
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: A lot of feelings, a lot of emotions. When I got my name called, it was kind of a blessing, but also just kind of thankful for that moment because all the hard work my parents have put in for me to be at this situation. It's something that I've always wanted to give back to them. To be able to experience that moment with them means a lot to me.
Q. When did you realize this was possible, like this dream where -- I feel like, when you go to IMG, it's probably what you're usually thinking. Was there a point before then when you said, you know what, I really want to make a run at this?
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: It was my freshman year of high school. Me and my older brother Francisco, we both went to San Bernardino, St. Thomas Aquinas in California. We were just balling. We were just kids that were hungry for it.
Then we got to a point where we understand that we're actually good at something and we can continue forward with it. We started pushing for greatness, and that's been our goal ever since.
Q. What do you think will be the biggest challenge of adjusting to guard?
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: I don't know. Probably different techniques than the tackle, but I've been training, cross-training my whole training process not only for the combine but after the combine. So I feel confident in my skills, and I'm ready to learn a lot more.
Q. What made you do that, the cross-training?
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: Just making myself valuable, if you learn all five positions. I mean, I'm hungry for a spot. So it's not fair for me to just practice one spot if I'm hungry for anything, just to be an offensive linemen.
Q. What kind of questions have you asked your brother, having come into the league last year and whatnot?
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: I haven't really asked him a lot of questions, but he has been a great mentor in my life. He told me just be myself. He actually told me that I'll enjoy the league more than college just because school is out of the story.
Yeah, it's just straight ball from now on.
Q. Were you familiar with John Harbaugh's teams when he coached the Ravens for two decades?
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: Yeah, I was. I kind of have a snippet of it. Hearing the story of him and his brother going at it in the Super Bowl, that's pretty funny.
Q. What about their style? Did you ever watch the Ravens and see a style that you can pick up on?
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: Yeah, I mean, the legendary Ray Lewis. That type of style of play kind of comes up with John Harbaugh and how he teaches things. I see him as an old school type of coach, and that's how I like things to be, just hard, gritty, run through somebody, no cut corners.
Q. We saw you met up with Jaxson just a little bit ago. What was that interaction like?
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: It was awesome. I'm really excited to get it going with him, to block my ass off for him and get him to make plays. He's so down to earth, humble kid who loves fishing. Can't wait to get out on the water with him someday.
Q. Did he like your comment where you said you'd basically die for him?
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: Yeah, he was pumped about it. He was Juiced about it. He just told me about it.
Q. I'm sure you've heard from a bunch of different people and still checking your phone, hearing it. I saw something come across social media last night that The Rock actually reached out to you to congratulate you?
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: I haven't checked social media yet. It's kind of hectic. So kind of staying away from it to focus on the main thing. Right now I'm here at the New York Giants, and I'm focusing on what can I do to make an improvement?
Q. Would you be surprised if someone of that stature reaches out to you?
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: Oh, yeah, of course. The Rock has been someone that I look forward to my whole life. He's one of them idols that we see on TV with movies, WWE. Whatever he does, he represents the Samoan culture. That's something that I like to do and take pride in it.
For him to do that at the big stage that he is with The Fast and the Furious, it means a lot. That's somebody that I look up to. So for him to notice me, that means a lot.
Q. This obviously is earlier since you're here, but have you and your brother talked about living together in the area or anything like that?
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: We haven't talked about it yet. There comes a time I'll more than likely move in with him. If anything, I wanted to stay closer over here, so 10, 15 minutes away, that's my spot. But it's up to him.
Q. Have you been able to talk about any of the other starting offensive linemen, like Jermaine Eluemunor and other linemen?
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: Yeah, Jermaine reached out after the draft, after the pick. I'm really excited to be working with him. He's a right tackle. They want me to play right guard. We're out here to move people, and that's what we're going to do.
Q. You mentioned Jaxson being from Utah. Is that going to make this bond a lot easier, as far as both of you guys coming from similar backgrounds state-wise?
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: I'm actually not from Utah. I'm from American Samoa. But Jaxson being near the Polynesian culture and like endured in that part of the world, it means a lot. He actually told me that he wants more Polys over here. That's what he was trying to push for. I was like, hey, man, let's start a pipeline, yeah.
Q. I don't know how much you and Arvell squared off in that playoff game, but what's your scouting report of him?
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: He's one helluva rusher. He's one helluva player overall. He's one of the cats that can do it all.
When I was watching his film, he was one of the best rushers that came off on the film, and he's also one of the best defenders that can cover people up, make plays downhill, and stuff like that. So it was kind of the key player that we had to look for during the game.
Q. I'm wondering what kind of -- have you spoken to anybody about playing guard, taking advice from people on making that switch? Do you have any thoughts on that in general?
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: No. I've been working with Jon Feliciano out of Knoxville, Triple F.
Q. What's been his advice?
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: It's pretty simple. Tackle, you've got a lot of space you've got to cover. Guard, you've got minimum space. If anything, he said guard would be easier. So just ready to work at it.
Q. Did other teams see you as a guard, or did other teams see you as a tackle in the pre-draft process?
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: Yeah, there were some other teams that see me as a guard. Like I said, man, there's five positions on the offensive line, and I'm ready to take one.
Q. What's it like this experience with Arvell, both of you guys coming in today?
FRANCIS MAUIGOA: He's an amazing kid. I know he don't smile much, but he's really cool behind the scenes. I got to talk to him.
I know he explained something about holding a grudge against us, Miami versus Ohio State, but what's in the past is in the past. Now we're New York Giants, ready to move on from it.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports