S Rankings: Andrew Mukuba

January 5, 2022 CFB Saturdays Staff

With the season underway players have had the opportunity to raise their stock and move up the rankings. Before we jump into Andrew Mukuba, here’s a few reminders about the rankings themselves:

The rankings will be updated throughout the season.
Players who have not played college football are not eligible for the rankings.
Players are graded on their college ability, not their pro potential.
We are judging players on their film, production and physical tools.

You can view the College Football S rankings here.

Clemson safety, Andrew Mukuba was an immediate impact player for the Tigers during the 2021 season. He arrived as a highly rated recruit and earned a starting job to start the season. Mukuba was outstanding on the back end for a strong Clemson defense that kept the Tigers in every game despite the offensive struggles. He made 48 tackles, 7 pass breakup with two tackles for loss and a sack from his safety spot. The young safety showed promise as a true freshman and will be a star for the Tigers in the near future.

Mukuba is an instictive player who has a good feel for what he is looking at and how the play is developing. He recognizes what the offense doing then reacts well to defend it. This makes Mukuba an asset defending both the run and the pass, as he is able to fill lanes coming downhill and limit yardage on running plays, but also knows when to stay in position downfield to take away options in the passing game. Mukuba flows well to the ball, showing a knack for being where he needs to be to defend the current play.

The 6’0″ 185 lb Mukuba couples his understanding of the game with the athleticism to make plays on the ball. While his range allows him to be in position, it’s his body control, leaping ability, timing and strength that allow Mukuba to break up passes downfield. He knows when to look for the ball and times the play well to get to the ball before the receiver while avoiding pass interference calls. Mukuba has the balance to adjust to where the ball is thrown and has a knack for getting his hand on the ball. That ability led to several pass breakups in 2021 and could lead to plenty of interceptions going forward.

Andrew Mukuba got off to a fast start as a true freshman in 2021 and will look to build on that success as his career progresses. He is a wonderful athlete who has the ability to cover plenty of ground in the secondary. He combines that athleticism with an advanced feel for the game and an innate ability to find the football. He is just getting started, but is already developing into one of the best safeties in college football.

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