Texas Longhorns defensive back Andrew Mukuba has taken aim at his former coach Dabo Swinney. As a player for the Clemson Tigers, Mukuba was named ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021, but he didn't live up to expectations the next two seasons.
After two lackluster seasons with the Tigers, Mukuba entered the portal and landed at Texas. Ahead of his first season with the Longhorns, Mukuba said he wasn't getting any better at Clemson with the coaching, which is why he entered the portal.
"My time at Clemson, I felt like I wasn't really getting better," Mukuba said this week on the 'Behind The Facemask' podcast (via 247Sports). "I wasn't being pushed enough to where I could reach my potential and my peak.
"The program wasn't where it needed to be for me and the whole team to be successful. After my junior year, I felt like it was the same thing. After that, it was only right for me to transfer."
In the transfer portal, Andrew Mukuba was a four-star recruit and quickly committed to Texas.
According to Mukuba, the Tigers' defensive coaches didn't realize his lack of development under their watch, which he believes could hurt his future in football, which is why he wanted to leave the program.
"No coach wants to hear one of their players is going to leave, but I felt it was a conversation that needed to be had," Mukuba said. "This was my future and something that was going to affect me. I don't think they were seeing it from that perspective.
"It was time to make a decision for myself, and I know it was right for me. They still supported me. There's no bad blood."
In the transfer portal, Andrew Mukuba was the 29th-ranked player and No. 3 safety. Last season, he recorded 42 tackles and six pass defenses.
Andrew Mukuba says it came down to Texas and Oregon
Once Andrew Mukuba entered the transfer portal, the defensive back said it came down to going to either Texas or Oregon.
Both schools had plenty of interest in the safety, but he opted to go to the Longhorns because of coach Steve Sarkisian.
"It was between Texas and Oregon, but I obviously committed to Texas," Mukuba said. "Everything has played to my favor. I'm looking to have a big year, and there isn't any better place to do it than in a big league like the SEC.
"Coach Sark is a really standup guy. He's a father figure. He cares about his players and where the program is heading. He was the coach I wanted to play for."
Andrew Mukuba will now get to play in the SEC as he tries to boost his NFL draft stock.
Mukuba and the Longhorns open their 2024 college football season on Aug. 31 against Colorado State.
Texas Longhorns Fan? Check out the latest Texas Longhorns depth chart, schedule, and roster updates all in one place.