Minnesota Football Recruiting: Three-star OL Saia Mapakaitolo commits to the Gophers

Ahead of the February Signing Day, the Minnesota Golden Gophers are not quite finished with their 2021 recruiting class. As they await a final decision from top-ranked commit Avante Dickerson, Arizona offensive tackle Saia Mapakaitolo has grabbed an oar.

Mapakaitolo played one season at Mission Hills (Calif.) Bishop Alemany as a high school junior to get more college football recruiting exposure. When he landed a scholarship offer from USC in January of last year, he committed to the Trojans in May and then opted to return to his home state of Arizona to spend his senior year at Red Mountain High School in Mesa, where most of his family resides. He decommitted and re-opened his recruitment in December.

Get to know Saia Mapakaitolo

Height: 6’5”
Weight: 280

Power 5 Scholarship Offers: Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon State, UCLA, USC, Utah, and Washington State

247 Sports Composite Rating: .8763

247 Sports Scouting Report

Mapakaitolo is one of the region’s top offensive line prospects, capable of playing right or left tackle at the next level. He shows the athleticism and lateral mobility to play as a left tackle in college and has a lot of untapped potential.

Mapakaitolo has a prototype tackle frame and at 6-5, 280 pounds, looks lean and should have no problem filling out and adding good weight. He’s equally talented as a run blocker and pass protector and shows the physicality and toughness to be a multi-year starter at the college level.

Hudl Highlights (Link)