BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Andrew Mukuba is one of the top safeties in this year’s NFL draft. He put together three solid seasons at Clemson before transferring to Texas where he really took his game to the next level.
Last season, Mukuba had five interceptions, the most in the SEC. He’s also fierce near the line of scrimmage and more than willing to help stop the run.
“I want to play fearless, you know,” Mukuba said. “That’s how I go about my game and I’m fearless. I go out there and try to attack,. Obviously I feel like I’m over overlooked because of my size. Playing safety and having to be in a box, people think I’m too small, but that’s not the case with me. I feel I still play physical. When I get the opportunity, I’m gonna strike.
The decision to transfer from Clemson to Texas wasn’t just about football, it was about family as well.
My mom was able to come was able to come to one game in three years,” Mukuba said. “That was my freshman year. I can’t forget that against Florida State and she couldn’t make the rest of the game just because she had to work and then you had to catch two flights to get to South Carolina.”
Mukuba added that the distance between the two of them was hard.
“It was hard on her and it was hard to me not being able to have the support system that I want,” he said. “I was just trying to make things easier for her coming back home to where she can just drive 15 minutes up the road to come watch me play.”
The 2024 third team All-SEC standout had a formal meeting with the Bills staff at the NFL Scouting Combine.
“I met with all the coaching staff in there,” Mukuba said. “That meeting went great. The Bills presented me a lot of things. They talked me through a lot of things and with my time in that meeting, I was able to learn as well.”
Andrew Mukuba is projected to be a 3rd round pick.
Josh Reed is an award-winning journalist who has served as News 4’s Sports Director since 2015. See more here.