Israel Mukuamu facts for kids
Mukuamu with the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2020
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| No. 24 – Dallas Cowboys | |||||||||
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | November 28, 1999 Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Parkway (Bossier City, Louisiana) | ||||||||
| College: | South Carolina (2018–2020) | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2021 / Round: 6 / Pick: 227 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Israel Mukuamu (pronounced MOO-kwah-moo; born November 28, 1999) is an American professional football player. He plays as a safety for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). The Cowboys chose him in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft. Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
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Early Life and High School Football
Israel Mukuamu grew up in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. He first went to Berkeley Senior High School. In his junior year, he helped his team have a great season with a 9-3 record.
Before his senior year, his family moved to Bossier City, Louisiana. He then transferred to Parkway High School. As a senior, he earned special honors for his skills in the Southwest Region.
Israel first planned to play college football at Florida State University. However, he changed his mind after the head coach left. He decided to attend the University of South Carolina instead.
College Football Career
Starting Out at South Carolina (2018)
In 2018, Israel Mukuamu was a freshman at the University of South Carolina. He played in all 13 games for the Gamecocks. He started two games as a safety. During this year, he made 17 tackles and had one interception.
Becoming a Star Player (2019)
In 2019, Israel became a full-time starter. He began as a safety but then moved to right cornerback. He played opposite future NFL player Jaycee Horn. Israel had an amazing season, earning second-team All-SEC honors. He made 59 tackles and led his team with four interceptions.
He had a standout game against the third-ranked University of Georgia. In that game, he made 11 tackles and caught three interceptions. One of his interceptions was returned 53 yards for a touchdown! For this great effort, he was named the National Defensive Player of the Week.
Junior Year and NFL Draft Prep (2020)
In 2020, Israel played in six games, starting five of them. He played both cornerback and safety. He was dealing with a groin injury, which limited his playing time. Despite the injury, he still managed to get 10 tackles and two interceptions. He even made a fantastic one-handed interception against the University of Florida.
On November 17, 2020, Israel decided to stop playing for the rest of the season. He wanted to focus on getting ready for the 2021 NFL draft. He finished his college career with 86 tackles, 7 interceptions, and 10 pass breakups in 31 games.
College Statistics Overview
Here is a look at Israel Mukuamu's college football statistics:
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Tackles | INT | Pass Def | TD |
| 2018 | South Carolina | SEC | FR | DB | 5 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | South Carolina | SEC | SO | DB | 12 | 59 | 4 | 9 | 1 |
| 2020 | South Carolina | SEC | JR | DB | 5 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Professional Football Career
Joining the Dallas Cowboys (2021)
The Dallas Cowboys picked Israel Mukuamu in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft. He was the 227th player chosen overall. The Cowboys planned for him to play as a safety. He signed his first professional contract on May 13, 2021, which was a four-year deal.
Continuing with the Cowboys
Israel Mukuamu re-signed with the Cowboys on a one-year contract on March 14, 2025. He continues to be an active player for the team.
Personal Life
Israel's father, Muana “Charles” Mukuamu, was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was an athlete who competed in Judo.
