Andrew Mukuba, S Clemson: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Mukuba was a four-star recruit from LBJ Early College High School in Austin, Texas. in the class of 2021
Clemson’s Andrew Mukuba is a candidate for the top safety spot in the 2024 NFL Draft. The versatile defensive back handles a large number of assignments for the Tigers. Mukuba projects as a top 100 selection.
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Andrew Mukuba, S Clemson: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Junior defensive back from Austin, Texas
Background: Mukuba was a four-star recruit from LBJ Early College High School in Austin, Texas in the class of 2021. He was the No. 167 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 211 for Rivals, and No. 123 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 154th in the nation with an 83 grade out of 100. As a high school senior, Mukuba was the District Offensive Player of the Year. He amassed 27 receptions for 427 yards and six touchdowns in addition to 20 carries for 173 yards and two scores. Mukuba tallied 60 tackles, six interceptions, and four forced fumbles on defense that year. In 2019, he was the District 12-5A Newcomer of the Year in Texas when he caught 32 passes for 635 yards and 12 touchdowns on offense and recorded 80 tackles, five interceptions, and three forced fumbles on defense. Mukuba also scored twice on kick returns and earned All-State honors as a receiver. He was born on Dec. 7, 2002 in Zimbabwe and immigrated to the United States when he was nine years old.
Injuries & Off-Field: Missed two games with a dislocated elbow and battled a knee injury in 2022
Awards: 2021 Third Team All-ACC, 2021 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, 2021 Freshman All-American (FWAA), 2022 Honorable Mention All-ACC
Pros: Special teams experience on the punt return, punt coverage, and field goal block units, experience playing deep safety, slot, and box roles, appears to have above-average arm length, fluid hips, quick flowing defensive back, quick backpedal, speed to play man coverage on deep crossing routes, better mirroring from a trail position in man coverage than over the top, good recovery speed, maintains leverage while bracketing receiver downfield, good understanding of zone help, quick to break on underneath or crossing routes, ideal pattern matching when wide receivers enter his deep zone assignment, finds and eliminates receiving options during scramble drills, timing and closing burst to break up throws at the catch point, willing to come downhill against the run and screens, impressive range in pursuit
Cons: Three penalties committed in 2022, lean frame, a little high-hipped, allows receivers to overtake him in off-man coverage, allows too much cushion at times, doesn’t stay attached to receivers at the top of comeback routes, sucked downhill by eye candy, some mental lapses, range is just short of sideline-to-sideline, block deconstruction, takes steep angles to the football, goes for ankle tackles instead of driving through ball carriers, low play strength, grab and drag tackler, doesn’t always wrap up, occasionally leads with his head as a tackler, looked more hesitant in the run game in 2022 than 2021
Overview: Clemson deploys Mukuba from a versatile array of alignments. He’ll go from playing slot corner to deep middle-of-the-field safety in Cover 1 a few plays later. The Tigers also let Mukuba play the robber role in some one-high safety looks, but they usually let the athletic defensive back take the deeper alignment. He also gets his fair share of snaps in two-high coverages. The junior’s slot versatility is attractive, but he doesn’t project to that role in the NFL. Asking him to carry a slot receiver in motion across the formation before staying attached on a 15-yard crossing or comeback route is a poor use of his skills and doesn’t play into what he does well. Mukuba is at his best in read and react situations when the play unfolds in front of him. He lacks the size, play strength, and block deconstruction skills to play a large number of snaps in the box but is a willing contributor in run support. His tackling form is poor and often relies on throwing shoulders or grabbing and dragging ball carriers down instead of driving through them. Mukuba’s lean frame and slightly high-hipped build limit his ability to produce power and play strength. However, the former All-ACC defensive back appears to have above-average arm length and fluid hips, despite his build. He’s a quick flowing defensive back with a nice backpedal and ideal recovery speed. He doesn’t quite offer sideline-to-sideline range, but he gets close. Mukuba has the speed to play man coverage on deep crossing routes and carry slot receivers vertically. He’s better mirroring from a trail position in man coverage than working over the top. Mukuba maintains leverage while bracketing receivers downfield. He displays a good understanding of where his help is in zone coverage and is quick to break on underneath or crossing routes. The Texas native is good at matching the receiver’s route pattern once the potential pass catcher enters his deep zone assignment. Mukuba stays focused and eliminates receiving options during broken plays when the quarterback scrambles. The safety’s timing and closing burst help him break up potential receptions at the catch point. Mukuba allows receivers to overtake him in off-man coverage and seems uncomfortable in this role. There are also instances where he allows too much cushion in off-man. Mukuba doesn’t stay attached to receivers at the top of comeback routes and lacks the technique and footwork to play corner full-time. There are some mental lapses on tape where Mukuba is caught with his eyes in the backfield or is sucked downhill by eye candy.
Overall, Mukuba is a versatile safety prospect with athletic upside who is at his best in read and react situations when the play unfolds in front of him. He has some physical limitations but has the speed and closing burst to be a menace over the top in a single or two-high defense.
Role & Scheme Fit: Free safety in a two-high shell
Round Projection: Third Round
Size: 6'0", 185 lbs. (Unofficial)
Submitted: 03-28-23