Clemson Starting Safety Andrew Mukuba Returning to School

Clemson kept their secondary run in place, as Andrew Mukuba announced his return to the Tigers' program Thursday.

Zach Lentz | Jan 5, 2023

Jason Priester All Clemson

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Clemson Tigers

Clemson kept a run of keeping key members of their secondary rolling Thursday with the announcement that safety Andrew Mukuba would return to school for another season.

Mukuba joined fellow secondary members Jayln Phillips and Sheridan Jones in announcing their return for another season.

The true sophomore made an immediate impact in 2021, earning Freshman All-American honors from nearly every outlet … became the first true freshman defensive back to start a season opener for Clemson since the NCAA instituted permanent freshman eligibility in 1972 … started more games (10) in the defensive backfield in 2021 than any Clemson true freshman in the modern era … enters 2022 credited with 54 tackles (two for loss), a sack, nine pass breakups and a fumble recovery in 576 snaps over 13 games (10 starts).

Season Stats (via Clemson Athletic Department):

2022: Made four tackles at Georgia Tech and recorded his first career interception on Clemson’s first play of the season from scrimmage … added three tackles vs. Furman … started at cornerback — his first at that position — vs. No. 10 NC State, adding three-first half tackles … contributed four tackles (including half a tackle for loss) and a pass breakup at Boston College … credited with eight tackles at Florida State … added two tackles and a pass breakup vs. No. 14 Syracuse … recorded seven tackles and a pass breakup at Notre Dame … collected five tackles and a pass breakup vs. Louisville … collected three tackles vs. Miami (Fla.) … had a touchdown-saving tackle vs. South Carolina that led to an R.J. Mickens end zone interception … collected three tackles vs. No. 24 North Carolina … made eight tackles in the Orange Bowl vs. No. 6 Tennessee.

2021: Freshman All-American selection by the Maxwell Football Club, FWAA, 247Sports, The Athletic, PFF and On3 Sports … earned ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, making Clemson the first school to produce back-to-back winners of the award after Bryan Bresee secured the honor a year earlier … third-team All-ACC selection … also earned second-team All-ACC honors from PFF … Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year semifinalist … played 576 snaps over 13 games (10 starts), collecting 54 tackles (two for loss), a sack, nine pass breakups and a fumble recovery … credited by the Clemson coaching staff with nine pass breakups, tying the Clemson single-season true-freshman record shared by Robert O’Neal (1989) and Justin Miller (2002) … became the first Clemson defensive back to start at least 10 games as a freshman since cornerback Mackenzie Alexander started 13 games as a redshirt freshman, and his 10 starts were the most by a true freshman defensive back in the two-platoon era … started in his collegiate debut vs. No. 5 Georgia, contributing eight tackles and a pass breakup … became the first true freshman defensive back to start a season opener for Clemson in records back to 1973 … added a pass breakup vs. SC State … credited with two tackles and two pass breakups vs. Georgia Tech … recorded his first game with double-digit tackles at NC State, posting 11 tackles (one for loss) … contributed two tackles vs. Boston College … added five tackles and a pass breakup at Syracuse … made two tackles at No. 23 Pitt … recorded three tackles, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery vs. Florida State … notched his first career sack among his three tackles at Louisville … made four tackles vs. UConn … added nine tackles and credited by coaches with a career-high three pass breakups vs. No. 13 Wake Forest … made three tackles at South Carolina … recorded two tackles vs. Iowa State and had a key lead block on Mario Goodrich’s interception return touchdown.

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