Israel Mukuamu facts for kids
Mukuamu with South Carolina 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) |
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| 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 2023 | |||||||||
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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 at the University of South Carolina.
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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 winning season with a 9-3 record. This was a big improvement for the team.
Before his senior year, his family moved to Bossier City, Louisiana. He then transferred to Parkway High School. As a senior, he was recognized as one of the best players in the Southwest Region.
Israel first planned to play college football at Florida State University. However, he changed his mind after their head coach, Jimbo Fisher, left for another team. He then decided to attend the University of South Carolina instead.
College Football Career
Israel Mukuamu played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks. He showed great skill throughout his time there.
Freshman Year (2018)
In 2018, as a first-year player, Israel played in all 13 games. He started two of those games as a safety. During this season, he made 17 tackles, which are plays where he stopped the ball carrier. He also had one interception, where he caught a pass meant for the other team. He also broke up one pass and caused one fumble.
Sophomore Year (2019)
For the 2019 season, Israel started as a safety. Later, he moved to play cornerback on the right side of the field. He played opposite Jaycee Horn, who also became an NFL player. Israel had a fantastic year and was named to the second-team All-SEC. This means he was one of the best players in the Southeastern Conference. He started 13 games and made 59 tackles. He also led his team with four interceptions and stopped nine passes.
One of his most memorable games was against the third-ranked University of Georgia. South Carolina won 20-17 in an upset victory. In that game, Israel made 11 tackles and had three interceptions. One of these interceptions he returned 53 yards for a touchdown! Because of his amazing effort, he was named the National Defensive Player of the Week.
Junior Year (2020)
In 2020, Israel played in six games and started five. He played both cornerback and safety. He dealt with a groin injury that limited his playing time. Despite this, he still made 10 tackles and had two interceptions, tying for the team lead. He made a highlight-reel, one-handed interception against the University of Florida.
On November 17, 2020, Israel decided to stop playing for the rest of the season. This was after his head coach, Will Muschamp, was let go. Israel wanted to focus on preparing for the 2021 NFL draft. He finished his college career having played in 31 games and starting 19. He made a total of 86 tackles, had 7 interceptions, and broke up 10 passes.
Professional Football Career
Israel Mukuamu was chosen by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft. He was the 227th player picked overall. The Cowboys planned for him to play as a safety. He signed his first professional contract, which was for four years, on May 13, 2021.
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.
