Latest news with #AndrewMukuba
New York Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Could Eagles rookie Andrew Mukuba start? Winding road to NFL prepped him for challenge
Any impatience Andrew Mukuba felt on draft weekend hearkened back to the day he was picked last. Technically, he wasn't picked at all. Back then, in the grassy field of Norman Elementary in Austin, Texas, the new kid from Zimbabwe experienced the quintessential American hierarchy of adolescence: picking teams. Shannon Crenshaw, the P.E. teacher, stood there with a football on his hip, watching as his fifth-graders kept passing over the boy who was different. Eventually, Crenshaw intervened. Advertisement He forced little Andrew onto a team, initiated the game as its all-time quarterback/referee, and flung the first pass away from Mukuba's side of the defense because he didn't know if the kid knew how to play. 'Well, Andrew's flying down there, and he just form tackles this kid,' Crenshaw said. 'Like, boom! Like, Bobby Boucher.' Crenshaw threw it away from Mukuba again. Boom. The teams switched sides. Crenshaw chucked a deep ball just to see if the kid could catch it. Mukuba tracked it, snagged it, housed it. 'I'm like, 'This game over,'' Crenshaw said. ''You know what? Y'all keep playing. I'm gonna give y'all the ball. Andrew get your butt over here, I need to talk to you.'' Another ballhawk is heading to Philly. The best of Andrew Mukuba 🍿@Andrewmukuba2 x @Eagles — Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 26, 2025 Crenshaw and his wife also ran a little league team. They convinced Mukuba's parents to let the fifth of their seven children join a sport stranger than soccer by arranging rides to games and practices that weren't too far from the family's home in the east Austin projects. At first, football was a novelty. The family laughed when the Crenshaws first brought Mukuba home; he was still wearing the helmet and shoulder pads that made him look like a little gladiator. Laughter was an improvement for the Mukuba family. Andrew (who goes by Drew) was born in Zimbabwe in 2002, after his parents and older siblings fled their home in the war-ravaged Democratic Republic of the Congo. He grew up in a refugee camp that sometimes lacked running water and electricity. He was 9 when an Austin-based resettlement program helped the Mukuba family immigrate to the United States in 2012. 'You can't forget the hard times,' Mukuba said after the Philadelphia Eagles drafted him at No. 64. 'Obviously, that makes you become who you are.' If there's a central theme for the second-round safety, who in December turned 22, it's self-awareness of the developmental track he's on. A quiet kid from southern Africa proved his little league worth by dusting teammates such as Latrell McCutchin (now a cornerback at the University of Houston) in competitive sprints. A two-way highlight machine at LBJ High launched his Clemson career by starting at safety from the jump (which hadn't been done there since 1973) and securing a freshman All-American selection. A three-year starter sensed his own stagnation and eschewed going pro for a final season at Texas, where his team-high five interceptions embodied the sort of playmaking safety the Eagles coveted under a rookie contract after their budget-oriented trading of C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Advertisement 'This guy just did everything,' Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said. 'Checked all the boxes.' That the Eagles invested a second-round pick on a safety for the first time since 2011 reflects both the value they see in Mukuba and the urgency they feel about their vacancy opposite Reed Blankenship. Could Mukuba start for the Eagles immediately, as he did at Clemson? Could he fulfill a platoon role as a dime defender? The initial phase of a long-term plan depends on the progress of a rookie with a reputation for being a quick study. Jahmal Fenner met with his incoming 10th-grader to identify goals. As the head football coach at LBJ High, Fenner had seen Mukuba light up his junior varsity squad as a freshman at nearby Reagan High. Mukuba, sitting out his sophomore season at LBJ due to state transfer rules, wanted the same goals as most kids: get faster, stronger, smarter. Mukuba's one-year absence from the field gave him an unusual runway to hash out a future that wasn't yet entirely devoted to defense. 'I liked to score touchdowns,' Mukuba said. Mukuba worked as a wideout the following summer at his first recruiting camp. He left with no scholarship offers. At another camp the following week, Fenner advised Mukuba to work out as a safety. Arizona and Arkansas both offered. Mukuba, who hadn't yet played a down of varsity ball, said that's when 'reality kicked in' that he was 'meant' to play safety. Mukuba dedicated himself to defense and sought dependability in his development. He chose Clemson over Texas and LSU because its coaching staff appeared more stable. Moving a thousand miles away to South Carolina was a considerable decision for Mukuba, whose mother, Tshala Bilolo, didn't fully understand the system that contained her son's vision. Bilolo, who mainly speaks Swahili, worked several jobs to support her children. She entrusted Crenshaw with much of Mukuba's direction in sports. Crenshaw remembers how aggrieved Bilolo felt when they watched Mukuba shut the door to his apartment after they first dropped him off at Clemson, how it fully hit her that they were leaving behind the son she'd been safeguarding since she left Zimbabwe. Crenshaw told Drew's younger brother, Fatu, to translate assurance to his mother: This is going to change his life forever. Indeed, Mukuba's stock skyrocketed during a 2021 season in which the ACC named him the conference's defensive rookie of the year. He still credits his initial understanding of defenses to Brent Venables, Clemson's former longtime defensive coordinator, who primarily deployed Mukuba at free safety. But Oklahoma hired Venables as its head coach the following offseason, and Mukuba grew dissatisfied with his progress while playing less prolific football for two seasons as Clemson's primary nickel. He transferred home to Texas, which had hired Fenner the year before as its director of player development and high school relations. Advertisement They identified goals together, just as they'd done before. 'You've got one year,' Fenner said he told Mukuba. 'So, you've got to lock in, and you've got to make sure your lifestyle matches what you say you want to do.' 'Dad, I can't hear the TV 'cause you're talking.' Blake Gideon laughed at catching a stray from his 4-year-old son, Barrett, while talking passionately about his former safety on speakerphone. 'Please put that in the article,' said Gideon, Georgia Tech's newly hired defensive coordinator and former Texas safeties coach. Parenting is a balance, as Gideon and Mukuba both know. Mukuba did it at Texas with a distinct maturity Gideon says he didn't have at Mukuba's age. Mukuba's son turned 1 shortly after his only fall camp with the Longhorns. Gideon, a father familiar with sleepless nights, once checked in with Mukuba on how he was managing. 'He just has this big smile on his face,' Gideon said. 'Like, 'No, man. I'm good.' Like, 'It's tough, you know, and I'm sleepy in the morning sometimes but I love doing this.'' The story underlines what Gideon says is the 'most impressive thing' about Mukuba. There's a quiet confidence in the way Mukuba carries himself through his responsibilities. It permeates his persona. His silence is often misinterpreted. Gideon initially misread it himself. Mukuba didn't speak up in position meetings during fall camp, so Gideon tried to stump his newest safety by asking a question about concepts they'd covered three weeks prior. Mukuba schooled Gideon instead. 'He's not going to fill up the dead silence with a bunch of bulls—,' Gideon said. 'You know what I mean? Like, his words are meaningful. He's a genuine guy. There's a purpose behind everything he does.' Mukuba's purpose at Texas was to essentially prepare himself for the NFL by returning to free safety and resuming the progress he'd experienced under Venables. On-field communication is considered a prerequisite for NFL safeties, and Mukuba wasn't in charge of checks as Clemson's nickel. Safeties handle all the communication in Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski's system. They monitor the opposing offense's formations and splits while relaying the framework of the defense's coverage to the linebackers. Advertisement Kwiatkowski said Mukuba picked up the playbook quickly, recognizing concepts he'd already learned that were just called by another name. Gideon said Mukuba's major hurdle was overcoming the restrictions of his perfectionism. Texas safeties were more technique-oriented than scheme-oriented. Instead of dictating every specific responsibility in a predetermined call, they were asked to understand the offensive looks they'd face, match them with a memory bank of techniques and trust themselves to make defensive calls with conviction. Mukuba had to accept he was going to make mistakes. He had to admit that mistakes were actually good because they'd equip him with the answers to future problems. Mistakes would equip him with the flexibility to quickly address offensive surprises in the middle of the game. Who can prepare for everything? 'We're not gonna nail every call,' Gideon encouraged. Mukuba hit his full stride in a midseason, a No. 1 vs. No. 5 loss to Georgia, which contained one of Kwiatkowski's favorite plays of Mukuba's: a first-quarter interception in which Mukuba was initially covering the weakside flats but read the play and reversed course in time to unexpectedly leap and intercept a pass he batted to himself. 'He balled out of his mind against Georgia,' Gideon said. This is brilliant from Andrew Mukuba. No work? Find work From his flats responsibility, Mukuba finds the dig route from the opposite side of the field via Beck's eyes. Heck of a play. Credit to Trey Moore on the pressure as well. — CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) October 21, 2024 The Eagles most appreciate the versatility Mukuba affords them in coverage. Roseman emphasized upon drafting Mukuba that it's 'really hard to find cover safeties.' Mukuba punctuated that portion of his resume with a game-winning interception against Arizona State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. But versatility can be an empty buzzword. Yes, Mukuba played in different alignments at both Texas and Clemson. But to Kwiatkowski, 'versatility' when directly applied to Mukuba means he's attached to the affirmative when paired with any of the following questions: Can he play in zone coverage? Can he play in man coverage? Can he communicate? Can he blitz and beat blocks and tackle? Those specific affirmatives can support the creativity of NFL defensive coordinators such as Vic Fangio. Gideon remains convinced that the 5-foot-11, 186-pound Mukuba would've been a first-round selection if he'd been an inch taller and 14 pounds heavier. Kwiatkowski and Gideon have often compared Mukuba to another undersized safety Kwiatkowski coached at Washington: Budda Baker (5-10, 195), a two-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler for the Arizona Cardinals, whom Gideon says also plays bigger than his size. 'He plays a lot like Budda, like he throws his s— around,' Gideon said. 'He's a coach's dream in that respect.'
USA Today
13-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Eagles Andrew Mukuba makes an exclusive list of non-first-round draft picks to watch
Eagles Andrew Mukuba makes an exclusive list of non-first-round draft picks to watch The post-draft praise continues for Eagles rookie Andrew Mukuba. Have you ever been excited about something? Have you ever taken time to do research after the fact and found out you weren't quite as enthusiastic as you should have been? Let's talk about the Philadelphia Eagles' 2025 NFL Draft class. In particular, we'll zero in on safety, Andrew Mukuba. The story alone will force a smile across your face. Taken 64th overall, with the final pick of the second round, this 2024 Third-Team All-SEC nod completed his NCAA run with the Texas Longhorns. This is after a three-year ride with the Clemson Tigers. He earned Third-Team All-ACC honors in 2021 and Freshman All-American honors, and guess what? While at Clemson, he was teammates with fellow Eagles youngsters Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Will Shipley. Andrew Mukuba earns high praise on an impressive list of NFL rookie defenders taken after Round 1. Mukuba's stat line from his final NCAA season will impress you: 69 tackles, seven pass breakups, a forced fumble, and five interceptions, which led the SEC in 2024. ESPN's Field Yates recently pieced together an impressive read, Ranking 2025 NFL rookie impact for non-Round 1 draft picks. Philly's young rookie landed ninth on his list of the top rookie defenders. Here's what Yates mentioned as his reasoning. "The Eagles' remodel of their secondary continued into the draft, as they used the final pick of the second round on the instinctive, pro-ready Mukuba. I love his football IQ, and while Mukuba has a smaller frame for a safety (he was only 186 pounds at the combine), he packs a lot of power as a physical tackler. His versatility to play in the slot a little bit should only increase early playing time." That should get the adrenaline pumping. Mukuba joins a safety room already housing Reed Blankenship, Sydney Brown, Lewis Cine, Tristin McCollum, Andre' Sam, and undrafted rookie Maxen Hook. Philly traded C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans. Mukuba figures to make that a seamless transition. He isn't the headhunter that Brown is. Still, both will add value to this young Eagles secondary, as the new guy is a better cover guy and a phenomenal playmaker whenever the football travels into his vicinity.
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NFL draft: RAS scores for the Eagles' 10-player class
2025 NFL draft: RAS scores for the Eagles' 10-player class The 2025 NFL draft is over, and Eagles GM Howie Roseman deserves to be commended for acquiring ten athletic and versatile football players. The draft is over, and after Philadelphia wrapped up rookie minicamp, Eagles GM Howie Roseman must be commended for his athletic and versatile collection of football players. In this draft, Philadelphia focused again on big-game experience and leadership. Every player drafted had spent three years in school or had served as a captain. Most insiders have rated the Eagles highly, and according to Kent Lee Platte of Philadelphia had one of the most explosive classes in the draft. RAS (Relative Athletic Score) measures a player's athletic testing in relation to size and historical results. It's graded on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, and we reviewed the marks for Philadelphia's ten-player class. Rd. 1, No. 31: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama Campbell was drafted in round 1 with pick 31 in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.88 RAS out of a possible 10.00, ranking 41 out of 3203 LBs from 1987 to 2025. Round 2, Pick 64: S Andrew Mukuba, Texas Andrew Mukuba was drafted in round 2, pick 64 in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 5.12 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 591 out of 1209 FS from 1987 to 2025. Round 4, Pick 111: DT Ty Robinson, Nebraska Ty Robinson was drafted in round 4, pick 111 in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.89 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 24 out of 2033 DT from 1987 to 2025. Round 5, Pick 145: CB Mac McWilliams, Central Florida Mac McWilliams was drafted in round 5, pick 145 in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 7.38 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 724 out of 2761 CB from 1987 to 2025. Round 5, Pick 161: LB Smael Mondon, Georgia Smael Mondon Jr. was drafted in round 5 with pick 161 in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.42 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 187 out of 3203 LB from 1987 to 2025. Round 5, Pick 168: C/G Drew Kendall, Boston College Drew Kendall was drafted in round 5 with pick 168 in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.20 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 55 out of 673 OC from 1987 to 2025. Round 6, Pick 181: QB Kyle McCord, Syracuse Kyle McCord was drafted in round 6 with pick 181 in the 2025 draft class. Due to a lack of measurements, he did not qualify for a #RAS. Round 6, Pick 191: T Myles Hinton, Michigan Myles Hinton was drafted in round 6 with pick 191 in the 2025 draft class. Due to a lack of measurements, he did not qualify for a #RAS. Round 6, Pick 207: T Cameron Williams, Texas Cameron Williams was drafted in round 6 with pick 207 in the 2025 draft class. Due to a lack of measurements, he did not qualify for a #RAS. Round 6, Pick 209: OLB Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech Powell-Ryland was drafted in round 6 with pick 209 in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 9.18 RAS out of a possible 10.00, ranking 168 out of 2030 DE from 1987 to 2025.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
All-Pro Safety Signing With Eagles Predicted By NFL Analyst
Even after the Philadelphia Eagles drafted Texas safety Andrew Mukuba with their second-round selection, there have been analysts and fans around the league who are looking for the team to make one more move. Philadelphia's need along the defensive side of the ball is highlighted in the safety room. They traded away Chauncey Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans, and could use some extra leadership at safety moving forward. Advertisement That is precisely why Jeffri Chadiha said the Eagles "make too much sense" for the team to sign veteran free agent Justin Simmons to a deal. "This one makes too much sense. Simmons is a two-time Pro Bowler and four-time second-team All-Pro who played some of his best football for the Denver Broncos when current Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was that franchise's head coach (2019-2021)," Chadiha said. "The Eagles also have an opening at safety after trading C.J. Gardner-Johnson following last season's Super Bowl win over Kansas City. "Gardner-Johnson's ballhawking skills were an essential part of Philadelphia's stellar defense. Simmons could bring the same talents to the Eagles, as he's familiar with Fangio's system and known for taking the ball away (his 32 interceptions rank tied for fifth among active players)." Simmons has openly campaigned to end up in Phillly this year to play under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio - his former head coach when both were in Denver. Advertisement Philadelphia is looking to get younger, though. Simmons is on the wrong side of 30, and coming off a down year with the Atlanta Falcons. It may make a lot of sense for both sides, but that doesn't mean it is going to happen anytime soon. Related: Not Even Taylor Swift Keeps Mom From Roasting Kelce Boys About Dating Related: Eagles Sign Dallas Goedert to New $10 Million Contract In Massive Move
USA Today
27-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Eagles stocked up on defense, Giants get new QB as NFC East tries to out-draft Cowboys
Eagles stocked up on defense, Giants get new QB as NFC East tries to out-draft Cowboys Most of the Cowboys faithful believe their team made dramatic improvements over draft weekend... but the same can be said of every fanbase. Everyone feels good about their rookie class the day after the last picks are made, and that also goes for the three Cowboys rivals who round out the NFC East. The Cowboys' arch-enemies all landed top-tier talent, too. And just like first-round pick Tyler Booker endeared himself to fans by making family members at his own draft party take off their Eagles gear and then going on to say in an interview that he couldn't wait to "bully" Philadelphia defender Jalen Carter, calling him a "crybaby [expletive]," there are 22 newly-drafted players in three NFL cities who are already looking forward to the pressure-cooker nastiness of Dallas Week. Many of these opponents were on the Cowboys' big board just hours ago. Some were even in the facility as official visitors and will be remembered as ones that got away. Here's a look at the members of the 2025 draft class who the Cowboys can now expect to see twice a season as Eagles, Commanders, and Giants. The Eagles continued their streak as one of the league's savviest drafting teams, according to most experts. And GM Howie Roseman continued to put an emphasis on defense, using his first five selections on that side of the ball. Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell could have come off the board much higher than he did and figures to combine with Zack Baun as a formidable duo at the position. (It does call into question, though, the future of the injured Nakobe Dean.) Former Texas safety Andrew Mukuba was among the Cowboys' national 30 visitors, UCF cornerback Mac McWilliams looks to be legit, and Philadelphia drafted yet another of the Georgia Bulldogs' star defenders, linebacker Smael Mondon, Jr. 1.31 - Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama 2.64 - Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas 4.111 - Ty Robinson, DL, Nebraska 5.145 - Mac McWilliams, CB, Central Florida 5.161 - Smael Mondon, Jr., LB, Georgia 5.168 - Drew Kendall, OL, Boston College 6.181 - Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse 6.191 - Myles Hinton, OT, Michigan 6.207 - Cameron Williams, OT, Texas 6.209 - Antwaun Powell-Ryland, DE, Virginia Tech Washington Commanders Dan Quinn and the Commanders came away with just five picks in this year's draft, but they scored high marks with every single one of their selections. Josh Conerly, Jr. was one of the highest-rated tackles in the class, and now he'll pair with Laremy Tunsil in protecting Jayden Daniels. Dallas had been said to have some interest in Washington's skilled second-rounder, Mississippi cornerback Trey Amos; they may have been hoping he would last until the third round, when they ended up taking Shavon Revel, Jr. Virginia wide receiver Jaylin Lane could prove to be an explosive talent who people won't believe lasted until Round 5... and don't sleep on Arizona running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt, he may be one of the more underrated prospects of Day 3. 1.29 - Josh Conerly, Jr., OT, Oregon 2.61 - Trey Amos, CB, Mississippi 4.128 - Jaylin Lane, WR, Virginia 6.205 - Kain Medrano, LB, UCLA 7.245 - Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Arizona The Giants needed to nail this draft, and most outlets believe they did. Of course, it's hard to miss with the No. 3 overall pick, and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter will likely give the Cowboys nightmares early and often in his pro career. We may not know for a while if Jaxson Dart is the real deal at quarterback, but Big Blue's trade up to get him in the first round shows their commitment and belief in him. Purdue offensive tackle Marcus Mbow was a Top-100 talent and could easily be starting by Week 1, and Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo is a multi-use wrecking ball that no team wanted to see in their division. The G-Men made serious forward progress this weekend; the NFC East could truly be a four-team battle royale this upcoming season. 1.3 - Abdul Carter, DE, Penn State 1.25 - Jaxson Dart, QB, Mississippi 3.65 - Darius Alexander, DL, Toledo 4.105 - Cameron Skattebo, RB, Arizona State 5.154 - Marcus Mbow - OT, Purdue 7.219 - Thomas Fidone II, TE, Nebraska 7.246 - Korie Black, CB, Oklahoma State Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
