Before sunrise during the offseason, Oceanside High senior interior offensive lineman Lincoln Mageo runs the steps at the Junior Seau Pier Amphitheatre. After the workout, he heads to the beach below — a stretch of sand that, he said, has been part of his life since he was 5 years old.
On Saturday afternoon, Mageo returned to the amphitheater to announce the next step in his football journey.
Before a packed crowd at the Oceanside Samoan Cultural Celebration, the nearly 6-foot-4, 300-pound lineman committed to the University of Michigan.
“When I thought about when and where I should commit, I thought about my journey and about always wanting to put my school and my city on the map,” Mageo told The Coast News. “I wanted a place I could share this moment with my city, and the Samoan Cultural Celebration was the perfect place to do it. It was a full-circle moment.”
“For the next years of my life, I will be taking my academic and athletic career to …” Mageo said before reaching for a Michigan hat. Its navy blue was just a shade darker than the Oceanside tank top he wore, with “Oceanside” stretched across the front.
“I felt my top three schools would all do a good job developing me as a football player, but Michigan was the place that would develop me on and off the field and prepare me for life after football,” Mageo said. “I also couldn’t pass up the chance to be coached by Coach Jim Harding. He had two offensive linemen drafted in the first round this year, and he’s coached them since they were freshmen.”
While Mageo’s size and recruiting profile have drawn national attention, fellow Oceanside lineman Lotu Seumalo said his greatest value to the Pirates is his leadership.
“Lincoln is a great offensive lineman overall. He helps everyone remember their assignments, motivates us before every offensive period and is just a great teammate to play next to,” Seumalo previously told The Coast News. “Off the field he’s cool and funny, but once we step on the field, he takes everything personally. Without him, our offensive line just isn’t the same.”
A four-star recruit, Mageo chose Michigan over fellow finalists Utah and Washington after emerging as one of the nation’s top offensive line prospects. Ranked as high as No. 242 nationally by Rivals, he is widely regarded as one of the country’s top interior offensive linemen and premier run blockers.
An official visit to Ann Arbor in early June helped solidify Mageo’s decision after he spent time with Michigan’s new coaching staff.
With his commitment, Mageo became the 21st member of Michigan’s 2027 recruiting class.
With Mageo leading the way in the trenches, Oceanside finished 7-5 last season, captured the Avocado League East championship with a perfect 4-0 record, blanked crosstown rival El Camino 22-0 and opened the CIF San Diego Section playoffs with a 35-14 victory over Holtville.
The Pirates open the 2026 season at home against Granite Hills on Aug. 21.
