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2021 NFL Draft prospects to watch: SEC

By Kyle Edmond

TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 10: Kylin Hill #8 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs dives for a touchdown over Shyheim Carter #5 of the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The touchdown was called back on an offensive penalty. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 10: Kylin Hill #8 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs dives for a touchdown over Shyheim Carter #5 of the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The touchdown was called back on an offensive penalty. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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2021 NFL Draft, Israel Mukuamu
2021 NFL Draft prospect Israel Mukuamu #24 of the South Carolina Gamecocks (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

South Carolina – Israel Mukuamu, Defensive Back, Junior

There are few players that I’m as excited to watch during the 2020 season as Israel Mukuamu. A Second Team All-SEC selection, Mukuamu had a rather quiet season that was well-rounded, beginning to draw the attention of the NFL.

The other defensive backs on this list did one of two things during the 2019 season. They were either a ball-hawk who wracked up the interceptions or a cover dominant player that tallied pass break-up after pass break-up. Mukuamu was in the small group that was able to do both.

During the 2019 season, he paced the Gamecocks in both interceptions and pass break-ups, but it wasn’t like he did either by a slim margin. His four interceptions accounted for a third of the team’s tally while his nine pass break-ups tied for the team lead with the next most being five. He also registered the fifth-most tackles on the team with 59.

One area that Mukuamu lacked a bit was his ability to force pressure in the backfield, playing more like a true defensive back in the secondary rather than one that can play up on the line also. Regardless, his ability to find the ball and either catch it or knock it down is a skill that NFL teams will be ecstatic to add in the draft.

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