As NFL receivers got bigger, there was also a tendency for NFL cornerbacks to be bigger and longer to match them. It is part of the natural arms race between offenses and defenses, one side seeking an advantage and the other counterattacking.
The curves rarely get much bigger and longer than Israel Mukuamu, from South Carolina, who vaguely measures the ridiculous 2 meters in height and 93 kilos. Despite his size, he has good movement skills for a player of his size and was able to be an effective high school corner. If the New York Giants do not select a defensive defense in the draft, they may see Mukuamu as a value later.
But is Mukuamu’s size an asset, a liability or something in between?
Prospectus: Israel Mukuamu
Watched games: vs. Alabama (2019), vs. Georgia (2019), vs. Florida (2020)
Measurable
Height: 6040 (6 feet-4)
Weight: 205 pounds
Statistics
Games played: 22
Equipments: 86
Fighting for a loss: 4.0
Forced Fumbles: 1
Interceptions: 7
2020 Statistics
Games played: 5
Equipments: 10
Fighting for a loss: 0
Forced Fumbles: 0
Interceptions: two
Quick Summary
Best: Length, physicality, disarming, relative speed
Worse: Absolute speed
Projection: Free security or external cornerback in a coverage scheme 3 that performs some man coverage.
Game Tape
Full report
South Carolina’s cornerback, Israel Mukuamu, is a truly rare size for the position. Mukuamu is exceptionally tall and with long arms to match, for a cornerback that he uses to good effect. Mukuamu played both in the cornerback and in the safety of South Carolina’s defense, sometimes changing positions during the game.
Like a corner, Mukuamu shows an effective obstruction in the press coverage, using its length to interrupt the receivers at the start of their routes. It has enough speed and flexibility in the lower body to enter and stay in phase with most external receivers and is particularly effective when it is able to interrupt at the beginning of the move. Mukuamu is a pilgrim in the open, allowing him to stay with most receivers on vertical routes
He gains good depth as a defender while maintaining awareness of the game around him. He shows a good understanding of offensive concepts and his own role in defense, communicating, taking and passing assignments well. Here, too, he uses his exceptional length to his advantage, allowing him to close the passing windows that may appear open when the ball is thrown.
Mukuamu also looks comfortable when asked to play safely in a 2 or 3 depth shell. He is able to take his knowledge of coverage areas from corner to safety and maintains his designation discipline. He also shows a willingness to go down in race defense both as a safety and as a corner, without hesitation and good competitive stamina when he needs to get his hands dirty. He has the playing strength to define a firm edge as a cornerback and is able to fight blocks or defeat the stiff arms of running backs. Mukuamu is a reliable tackler, usually making good angles and routinely attacking in good shape. Mukuamu is a final defender who uses his length well to knock down ball carriers and limit yards after contact.
Mukuamu’s size and length are a double-edged sword. Although he has good fluidity and agility for a player of his size, he still struggles a little to compose himself and change direction as quickly as a smaller player. It can be a faster vulnerable receiver and should not be matched to players who win with agility. Likewise, he is vulnerable to recipients who have a good report against the journalist’s coverage. While his jam can be very disturbing in the line of scrimmage, Mukuamu struggles to recover and reach the receivers when his jam fails.
Overall score: 6.5 – The floor, the ceiling and the draft will probably be in the eye of the beholder. This perspective has stimulating mental and physical tools for development, but it can also erupt in the wrong environment.
Projection
Israel Mukuamu can be a difficult projection for the NFL level and its final role will likely depend on the team’s assessment.
Your most natural fit for most teams is likely to be a safety cover 2 or defense cover 3. There, he is able to use his size, reach, IQ in football and competitive resistance to the maximum potential, without being exposed to receivers who can overcome him.
That said, Mukuamu has the potential to be a moving piece that can match larger and longer receivers in the scrimmage line. In these situations, he has the ability to physically match the biggest “X” receivers at the NFL level and interrupt fast pass games with his physical coverage. NFL coaches will also appreciate his competitive stamina, as he is one of the few defensive defenders who seems to love the contact. Mukuamu is a reliable defender with the ability to face and defeat blocks to make the move. He also shows solid instincts to anticipate racing moves and avoid being taken in by disorientation.
Mukuamu may start his career as a piece of depth while finding his foot and a natural role in defending the NFL, but he has tools that coaches are likely to want to develop.