To bolster his NFL draft stock, Andrew Mukuba knew he had to leave Clemson for Texas football

The joy in Andrew Mukuba’s voice after last Saturday’s Texas Longhorns victory was noticeable. Raised in Austin, the LBJ product was finally back home in his comfort zone, making plays for the Horns.

Mukuba’s interception helped the Horns seal up a 31-12 victory, and it was a sign the Clemson transfer made the right choice in betting on himself during the offseason.

“First one, obviously, as a Longhorn. Many more to come by the way but felt good to get one,” Mukuba said afterward. Two days later, that feeling hadn’t worn off, and his coach took notice.

“I thought Andrew Mukuba played a really good football game Saturday,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday.

At Clemson, Mukuba (pronounced moo-KOO-buh) was the first freshman defensive back to start a season opener since 1973. But Mukuba told the Behind The Facemask podcast this summer that, as time progressed, “I felt like I wasn’t really getting better.” So he went into the transfer portal, not totally sure what to expect.

Mukuba sure knew what was happening back home at Texas. He grew up with UT defensive standouts Jahdae Barron and Michael Taaffe. Mukuba’s high school coach Jahmal Fenner was now on the UT staff as director of high school relations. With all those connections, the decision was easy. Mukuba was coming home.

“I mean, I feel like everything just was right about this school,” Mukuba said Monday. “I feel like the program changed. I like the direction where the program was heading, obviously moving to a bigger conference. And really, mainly, just being close to the family at home, I feel like that’s what I needed at that point of my time in my life, and I felt like only thing I could lean on was family. I feel like coming home was the best I could do.”

Mukuba had 149 tackles, 20 pass break-ups and one interception in 35 games at Clemson from 2021-23. He was named a freshman All-American by almost every outlet.

Mukuba wants to play in the NFL. He had to break free from a somewhat limited role at Clemson. Mukuba bet on himself and transferred to Texas, even though the Horns had solid defenders acquired via traditional recruiting.

“I feel like I just needed a new start, all over again, just starting from scratch, trying to build discipline and good habits in what I do,” Mukuba said Monday. “But coming here, obviously nothing is given. You’ve got to go out there and go prove yourself. And I felt I did a good job of coming in, getting the defense down, going out there, making plays and just practicing hard and playing hard.”

At Texas, Mukuba started the season opener at free safety and then came off the bench against Michigan.

The matchups will determine who starts each week. UT coaches plan on moving Barron around in multiple spots to take advantage of perceived deficiencies. Barron started at the “star” hybrid position against Colorado State; he started at free safety against Michigan.

But Mukuba will see plenty more action in the defensive backfield, giving him plenty of chances to make more plays and build his NFL resume.

“Coming here, moving to safety, playing the true position at safety, I felt like, for me, that’s kind of what I needed, being able to show what I can do, and not just be stuck in the slot cover, covering the slot receivers,” Mukuba said.