Andrew Mukuba Scouting Report
By: Michael Higgins
(Image courtesy of Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman)
School: Texas
Class: Senior
Position: SAF
HT: 5’11
WT: 186 lbs
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Background: Andrew Mukuba is a former 4-star recruit who attended LBJ Prep School in Austin, Texas. He and his damily are originally from Zimbabwe but moved to Texas. Mukuba was rated as one of the best safeties in the country but he still has exceeded expectations during his time at Clemson. At LBJ, Mukuba played both safety and wide receiver. He won District Offensive Player of the Year on top of being a top safety in the country. He also added 5 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles as a safety in his senior season. On top of playing both offense and defense, Mukuba also returned punts and kicks. He tallied two touchdowns on kick returns. He truly was the most impactful player in all three phases for his team. Out of high school, Mukuba chose to commit to Clemson over Arkansas, Oklahoma, and others.
College: Mukuba was named to the Freshman All-America Team and was also named the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Mukuba was able to rack up a total of 9 pass breakups and 54 tackles in 576 defensive snaps. In terms of statistical volume, Mukuba had a similar sophomore season with the addition of an interception. He has been a consistent defensive ace for the Tigers.
Strengths: Andrew Mukuba is a safety who plays with a dog mentality on the back end. He brings a physical nature to the defense that helps set the tone for each game. That physicality helps him in the run game, where he loves to mix it up and get involved to make tackles closer to the line of scrimmage. Mukuba takes good angles to the football and does well to adjust his route to the ball on the fly. While he does love getting aggressive, it does not take him out of position. He still maintains composure in coverage to put himself in the best position to make a play on the football. He is an instinctive player who can diagnose offenses and read the quarterback’s eyes well. He seems to always be around the football, resulting in plenty of funky interceptions and pass breakups. If the offense makes any little mistake, Mukuba is going to capitalize on it.
Weaknesses: Mukuba is a smaller safety with a thin frame. He will have a tough time replicating his ball production in the NFL against pro receivers. Mukuba does not have the recovery speed to stay in phase with faster receivers on go routes. His smaller frame comes with shorter measurables, which is devastating when playing the football. As a tackler, he can get run over at times simply due to a lack of mass. When he tries to adjust, he goes for the ankles and racks up the missed tackles.
Conclusion: Andrew Mukuba is a productive safety who is reliable on the backend. He brings a physical nature and helps elevate the players around him. Mukuba has had elite ball production for the entirety of his career and brings that splash play production to the NFL. He will have a somewhat limited ceiling due to his size, but he can overcome that with his instincts and ball skills.
Scheme Fit: Two High Safety
Ideal Role: Deep Safety
Best Team Fits: JAX, CLE, LAR
Player Comparison: Jordan Whitehead
Player Grade: Round 2 (84.1)
