ALLENTOWN — Eagles wideout DeVonta Smith was sitting at a table in an auxiliary room fielding questions from the media, ranging in topics from his annual softball celebrity game, to how the summer workouts have gone for him. He was asked which rookie has impressed him the most in his lone workout he had with the Eagles during the mandatory training camp session on June 10.
Without hesitation, he knew who came to mind. However, he did hesitate with how to say his new teammate’s name.
DeVonta Smith impressed with Eagles rookie
“The guy from Texas? The safety,” Smith said smiling. “I couldn’t say his name, so yea.”
The wideout was referencing the Eagles’ second-round, safety Andrew Mukuba. Although he has not gone up against the rookie just yet, the former Heisman winner, embarking on his fifth NFL season, has been impressed in the quick glimpse he had of the former Clemson and Texas product.
“Just seeing him out there, seeing the way he moves around, things like that, the way he goes about his business,” Smith mentioned about the rookie.
The star wideout and fans could certainly get used to hearing Mukuba’s name ringing out at Lincoln Financial Field or on broadcasts similar to the way they did last year with phenom rookies Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell in the Eagles’ secondary. The rookie is battling for the second starting safety spot alongside Reed Blankenship.
He was a freshman All-American with the Tigers and the ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year starting in 10 games at safety. After playing in 22 games over his final two seasons at Clemson at both defensive back and safety, he closed out his collegiate career in his home state playing for the Longhorns. With Texas, he had a career-best five interceptions last season, more than he had in his three previous seasons with Clemson (one), earning a third-team All-SEC selection. In total, he played in 50 games making 212 total tackles with six interceptions and 23 pass deflections.
Between his versatility and ability, the Eagles scooped him up in the second round despite some other safeties still on the board who graded higher than him. Mukuba was a better fit in Vic Fangio’s scheme and in the running to replace C.J. Gardner-Johnson after the Eagles traded him to Houston.
There is no guarantee Mukuba follows in the same footsteps of his fellow defensive back’s footsteps in DeJean and Mitchell, but his talent certainly creates opportunities for himself to follow a similar trajectory. According to reports, Mukuba worked alongside the first team during the open portion of minicamp to the media. A good sign for the rookie.
However, he will need to learn the defensive scheme and earn the trust of the veteran Fangio. Last year proved that if the longtime coordinator trusted a player, he would play.
“It’s a competition that is going to take a training camp and a few preseason games to sort out. And Tristin McCollum’s in that, too,” Fangio said back in early June.
Smith and Mukuba will start facing off against each other when training camp opens up starting on July 22.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
