Safety is one of the biggest focuses that the staff for Texas football is expected to target in the NCAA Transfer Portal heading into the offseason. And one major target among Power Five safeties just showed up in the transfer portal on Dec. 5.

Junior Clemson Tigers safety and Honorable All-ACC selection Andrew Mukuba announced on social media that he is entering the transfer portal on Dec. 5. This comes just after Texas lost two defensive backs to the transfer portal on Dec. 4, senior safety Jalen Catalon and redshirt freshman cornerback X’Avion Brice.

Texas football sees a high-priority possible S target emerge in the portal in Clemson transfer Andrew Mukuba
Texas is expected to be one of the major players in Mukuba’s portal recruitment. Mukuba is from Austin and went to LBJ High School before committing to Clemson in the 2021 class. He has a tight connection with Texas director of high school relations Jahmal Fenner, the head coach at Austin LBJ for five seasons while Mukuba played there.

Mukuba is also familiar with multiple other coaches on the Texas staff. That is especially the case with special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Jeff Banks, who served as Mukuba’s primary recruiter while on staff with the Alabama Crimson Tide a few years ago.

Between the positional need for the Longhorns to upgrade at safety this offseason, the relationships Mukuba has on this staff at Texas, and the proximity to home at UT, this fit makes a ton of sense for both parties.

Mukuba tabbed as a “must-get” target by Horns247

Hank South of Horns247 noted Mukuba as a “must-get” target for the Longhorns in the portal in a piece published on Dec. 5. This Horns247 report mentions that Texas’s staff is “aware” of Mukuba entering his name into the transfer portal earlier in the day.

Mukuba is a former Freshman All-American at Clemson in 2021 with over 1,500 defensive snaps and 30 starts under his belt during his time with the Tigers. He has nearly 150 career combined tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, 17 pass breakups, and two fumble recoveries in his three years at Clemson.

As a starter at strong safety for the Tigers this season, Mukuba tied for the team lead with a half dozen pass breakups and ranked third among starting DBs in defensive grade.

Texas and the Oklahoma Sooners could be two of the top options Mukuba considers among schools he’s interested in out of the portal this offseason. He’s also got relationships with head coach Brent Venables and the Oklahoma staff. Venables was his defensive coordinator at Clemson in 2021.