AUSTIN (KXAN) – Texas defensive back Andrew Mukuba recorded his first career interception Saturday in the Longhorns’ big win over the reigning national champion Michigan Wolverines.
On third down with two yards to go for Michigan in the second quarter, Mukuba snagged a tipped pass from QB Davis Warren and took it to the 37 yard line. The interception set up a Bert Auburn field goal, putting Texas up 17-3 at the time.
Mukuba would also record four tackles, two pass break-ups and earned the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week Tuesday.
The senior defensive back’s performance against Michigan wouldn’t just earn him a national honor, but also served as a breakout in his homecoming to Texas.
Mukuba graduated from LBJ High School in Austin in 2021 and played at Clemson for three years before transferring to Texas this spring.
But during his time at LBJ, Texas didn’t reach out to him.
“Back then Texas didn’t really recruit schools in the area, kids in the backyard,” Mukuba said. “But now they do a good job of bringing in guys that are from the city.”
At Clemson, Mukuba would earn Freshman All-American honors from nearly every outlet in the 2021 season. He was also named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Rookie of the Year in the same season.
The LBJ High School graduate isn’t the lone Austin native in Texas’ defensive back room, joined by Pflugerville Connally alum Jahdae Barron and former Westlake Chaparral Michael Taaffe.
“Having those guys on the team is amazing because that just brings hope to the city and lets the younger generation know that if they do what they’re supposed to do, then schools like Texas will come find them,” Mukuba said about Barron and Taaffe.
Taaffe mentioned that he thinks that Barron was on the front line of recruiting Mukuba, but did shoot the transfer a text as soon as he saw Mukuba entered the transfer portal.
“Who would have thought three guys from the Austin area are in the backend helping the Longhorn defense?” Taaffe said.
In 2023, Mukuba’s former coach at LBJ Jahmal Fenner joined the Longhorns’ coaching staff as the Director of High School Relations after five years as the athletic coordinator and head football coach at LBJ High School.
“Just seeing us grow together as football players and also being from Austin where we’re well known, it’s just fun going out here with those guys,” Mukuba said.
Texas will host the UTSA Roadrunners at 6:00 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 14. KXAN’s pregame show Texas Gameday is the official pregame show of Texas football and will air at 5 p.m. on KBVO Saturday.