Marcus Fakatou will turn 18 years old in August. The Ohio State commit already stands taller than Francis Mauigoa before his senior season of high school football.
He’s huge!
Not only does Fakatou have the height, the Buckeyes will add even more muscle to his frame once he begins his college football career next year. His weight will only continue to increase.
Who is Marcus Fakatou?
The No. 3-ranked defensive lineman in the recruiting Class of 2027 received 35 scholarship offers from schools all over the country, like Alabama, Oregon, Michigan, SMU, Washington, LSU and Miami. Marcus Fakatou took visits to Georgia, Ohio State and Texas. The Buckeyes received his commitment at the end of June. There is still time to flip but he seems to be locked in.
Fakatou, who grew up in Alaska, played his first three seasons of high school football at Orange Lutheran in California but he recently transferred to Sierra Canyon for his senior year. Although the Lancers used him in multiple different alignments, he mostly features as a 5-technique in a four-man front. Ohio State will likely kick him inside as a 4i in an odd front, which would allow him to read and react before he creates up-field push.
Raw strength is, unironically, Fakatou’s biggest strength. His wide base allows him to out-drive offensive lineman and split double teams. He does a great job of disengaging from a block with a long arm before he powers his way into the backfield. The tape speaks for itself.
Fakatou made 69 total tackles (54 solo) in 2025 with seven sacks, 14 quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles. That is well above the national average in every category.
How tall is he?
Marcus Fakatou, who is of Polynesian descent, recently attended a Youth Football Tournament at Independence High School in San Jose. Samoa played against Tonga.
Francis Mauigoa was also in attendance. The 21-year-old first-round draft pick by the New York Giants is listed on the roster at 6-foot-6, 335 pounds. He and Fakatou took multiple photos together. The latter is listed at 6-foot-6, 275 pounds.
There is no doubt that Mauigoa has a few pounds on Fakatou but Fakatou stands taller than Mauigoa— even though he is still ~three years younger.
This is the photo that really got people talking:
The height difference is not insignificant. Either Mauigoa is a few inches shorter than he is listed on the roster or Fakatou is closer to 6-foot-8.
I am curious to see how much weight Ohio State will put on Fakatou’s frame once he arrives to campus. He still has to play his senior year of high school first! Meanwhile, Mauigoa is already finished with three years of college football and on to the NFL.