Mukuba, out of Austin LBJ, is still considering Texas, LSU, Clemson, Arizona State, Michigan State, Arkansas, TCU, UCLA and Missouri. His hope was to take some visits, narrow that list down before eventually deciding. Now, he’s awaiting word on whether or not he and other recruits will have an opportunity to take official visits in the fall. If not, Mukuba could find himself in a position where he needs to work to a decision based off the information on each school he’s been able to gather over the past few months.
“To be honest, I hope the NCAA lets us know this month if we can take visits,” Mukuba said. “I’m going to hold out and see what the NCAA says. But I may have to make my decisions based on the facts I have on every school.”
Mukuba said of the schools he’s watching, everyone is on a level playing field. He’s done virtual visits with all of them and is trying to get as good of a feel as possible for all of them without being able to see most of the campuses.
“Among those schools, I’m open. I’m still trying to figure things out, putting facts together,” Mukuba said. “But I’m preparing the worst if we don’t’ have visits, I’ll go off everything I know of the school and base it off that.”
One program Mukuba is familiar with is the hometown Texas Longhorns. Mukuba has visited the UT campus about four times and he’s developed a good connection with the Texas coaching staff, including new defensive coordinator Chris Ash.
“Texas, it’s literally like 20 minutes from my house, so I’ve been there a couple times. I kind of know the campus, what goes around there because I’m not very far,” Mukuba said. “With Texas, the new coaching staff, I feel like they’re doing big things with the changes their making in the program. Coach Ash is going to change how they see the Texas defense.
“When coach Ash offered me, that was big in my recruitment. At first, Texas wasn’t big in my recruitment. When coach Ash came, that changed how I view Texas. So big ups to Texas. And coach (Tom) Herman, of all the head coaches I talk to, I probably talk to him the most.”
Mukuba said he talks to Herman about twice a week and Ash even more than that. Both coaches have stressed to him that they want to keep him in Austin.
“(Herman) just tells me the interest they have in me. It’s not just the position coach or the DC, but the head coach also wants me to be a part of the program. That’s a big thing,” Mukuba said.
Mukuba is 7v7 teammates with Texas defensive back commitments JD Coffey and Ishmael Ibraheem. That trio played together a couple weeks ago at a Pylon event, and Mukuba said it helps UT’s chances having his friends on the UT commitment list.
“Those are my guys. It impacts me a lot. During 7 on 7, we’re on the same team. The chemistry is there, the relationships are there. They’re like my brothers. It does impact me a lot,” Mukuba said.
The 6-0, 187-pound Mukuba has about 35 total scholarship offers. He’s the nation’s No. 18-ranked safety prospect.
