Andrew Mukuba Set to Face Former Team as Clemson Battles Texas in College Football Playoff

The No. 5 Texas Longhorns are preparing to host the No. 12 Clemson Tigers in a much-anticipated first-round matchup of the College Football Playoff this Saturday. Among the many intriguing player connections we see heading into this game, one stands out: Longhorns defensive back Andrew Mukuba will face his former team for the first time since transferring from Clemson to Texas.

The Austin native spent three seasons at Clemson before making the decision to transfer back home to Texas for the 2024 season. Mukuba, who was a key contributor during his time at Clemson, spoke about reconnecting with his former teammates ahead of this high-stakes game.

“They were kind of talking crazy, but those are my guys. I’m still kind of cool with some of them,” Mukuba said. “It’s good to go through that with them because I was on the same side with them at one point. But yeah, it’s going to be exciting.”

Mukuba’s journey to this point has been nothing short of remarkable. A four-star prospect out of Lyndon B. Johnson High School in Austin, he arrived at Clemson in 2021 and immediately made his presence felt. As a freshman, Mukuba had 47 tackles, seven pass breakups, and a sack, earning ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. Over the next two seasons, he continued to be a productive and reliable player for Dabo Swinney’s program.

Despite his success on the field, Mukuba felt he wasn’t reaching his full potential at Clemson. After the 2023 season, he entered the transfer portal in search of a program that could better help him achieve his goals.

“My time at Clemson, I felt like I wasn’t really getting better. I wasn’t being pushed enough to where I could reach my potential and my peak,” Mukuba said during an appearance on the “Behind the Facemask” podcast this past August. “I felt like the program wasn’t where it needed to be for me and the whole team to be successful. After my junior year, it was always the same thing. After that, it was only right for me to transfer. Texas was one of the schools that I was definitely looking at. Obviously I ended up committing to Texas and everything played to my favor.”

Andrew Mukuba

Since joining the Longhorns, Mukuba has flourished. This season, he earned Third-Team All-SEC honors by recording 52 tackles, six passes defensed, and a career-high four interceptions. His standout play has been instrumental in Texas’ strong defensive performance, particularly in the secondary.

While Mukuba expressed frustrations about his time at Clemson, he also reflected positively on the experience and emphasized that he holds no animosity toward his former team.

“At the end of the day, we are trying to win,” Mukuba said. “It’s all business, but after the game, we’re cool again.”

Mukuba also shared how much he valued his time at Clemson, despite ultimately deciding to move on.

“My time at Clemson was some of the best times I’ve had in my life,” he said. “I had a lot of fun at Clemson. I wouldn’t take that back for nothing.”

As the game approaches, all eyes will be on Mukuba and his potential matchups against former teammates like Antonio Williams and Bryant Wesco Jr. Clemson’s passing attack, led by quarterback Cade Klubnik, will face a significant challenge against a Texas defense that features Mukuba, Jahdae Barron, and Michael Taaffe in the secondary. This unit has been one of the best in the country, and it will likely be the most formidable pass defense Clemson has faced all season.

Mukuba’s familiarity with Clemson’s offensive system could also play a key role in the game. Having spent three years within Dabo Swinney’s program, Mukuba has firsthand knowledge of the Tigers’ tendencies and strengths.

“There’s nothing but good people inside that building,” Mukuba said of his former team. “It’s good to go through that with them because I was on the same side as them at one point.”

For Mukuba, Saturday’s game is more than just another playoff matchup; it’s a chance to showcase how much he’s grown since leaving Clemson and to prove himself on one of college football’s biggest stages. Whether it’s making a key interception or breaking up a crucial pass, Mukuba will be looking to make his mark against his old teammates in what promises to be a thrilling showdown.