Giants rookie used to emulate Rams’ Aaron Donald. Now, he’ll have to face him

The unknown freshman flipped on the film and intently studied it.

Over and over, Francis "Sisi" Mauigoa watched clips of Aaron Donald 's pass rush moves, hoping to emulate them on the field at Aquinas Catholic High in San Bernardino, California.

Mauigoa had moved there from American Samoa to pursue his football dreams. He played offensive and defensive line, so he fell in love with Donald's cross-chop move.

Mauigoa constantly tried to emulate it, using his inside hand to cross over, slap down a blocker's wrist and immediately gain arm control — before transitioning into a tight rip move. Maybe, Mauigoa thought, he could eventually do this in the NFL.

Seven years later, 70 miles from San Bernardino, Mauigoa likely will face Donald on Monday night as the legendary defensive lineman emerges from a two-year retirement.

While Donald's status for Giants - Rams officially remains unclear, Mauigoa — the Giants' rookie right guard — is preparing as if he will have to block Donald, a 35-year-old future first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Mauigoa, 21, knows the daunting challenge that awaits, as John Harbaugh's Giants aim for a shocking 2-0 start against the clear-cut preseason favorites to win the Super Bowl.

"I mean, he's Aaron Donald," Mauigoa told NJ.com on Thursday. "People lose sleep from him. Obviously, I have the utmost respect for him. He's still going to be him. He's still going to be a game wrecker, somebody that can change the game."

So is Mauigoa — this year's 10th overall draft pick — losing sleep this week over Donald?

"Nah," he said. "I usually go in with a neutral mentality. I adopted this when I was at Miami — nameless, faceless. It doesn't matter who you're facing. You've just got to trust your own technique and your own playing style."

During Mauigoa's three years of college ball at Miami, he played 10 total snaps at right guard. But Mauigoa handled himself nicely in the Giants' season-opening win over the Cowboys.

"It's going to be a tough challenge," Mauigoa said. "The best opponent I'll ever go against in my whole life, I guess."

Mauigoa has studied Donald's 2023 film this week. And he is expecting the same player on Monday night, despite Donald's two years away.

"He's going to be the type of guy that is going to do whatever he wants to do," Mauigoa said. "It can be a pain in the ass. But he made a name for himself with it — a person that doesn't have a tap-out button. He'll keep going and keep going."

By the time Mauigoa spent his final two high school seasons at powerhouse IMG Academy in Florida, he was still mimicking Donald's cross-chop maneuver. During one practice, he beat Tyler Booker — now the Cowboys' right guard — with the move.

Mauigoa's experience watching Donald predates his 2019 arrival in San Bernardino. While growing up in 'Ili'ili, a tiny coastal village in American Samoa, he loved his Sunday routine. His family went to church early and then came home to watch NFL games.

Since American Samoa is seven hours behind the East Coast — but just four hours behind Los Angeles — Mauigoa could catch plenty of Rams home games on TV.

Now, he said, it will "for sure" feel surreal to face Donald in just his second NFL game — and the 166th for Donald. Still, Mauigoa is coming in off a solid Week 1 showing.

"I'm always confident in my technique and my ability," he said. "I know my strengths, and I know my weaknesses. But yeah, just go in there and do my thing."

While playing all 69 snaps against the Cowboys, Mauigoa earned a 56.7 Pro Football Focus pass blocking grade. He graded 44.5 in run blocking. Ultimately, he didn't allow any pressures — the most important stat as this Donald matchup looms.

Four days before he lines up across from the legend he once tried to emulate, Mauigoa didn't hesitate when asked what he liked most about his NFL debut.

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