One Texas defensive backfield combination could feature three Austinites
Texas has a number of combinations in the defensive backfield it could deploy in the 2024 season such as…
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Boundary corner: Malik Muhammad
Boundary safety: Derek Williams
Field safety: Andrew Mukuba
Star: Jahdae Barron
Field corner: Jay’Vion Cole
–or–
Boundary corner: Jahdae Barron
Boundary safety: Jelani McDonald
Field safety: Michael Taaffe
Star: Jaylon Guilbeau
Field corner: Gavin Holmes
There’s a realistic combination that would feature three of the best defensive backs to come out of the Austin area in the past decade all in the middle of the secondary.
Boundary corner: Malik Muhammad
Boundary safety: Michael Taaffe
Field safety: Andrew Mukuba
Star: Jahdae Barron
Field corner: Gavin Holmes
Taaffe, a junior from Austin (Texas) Westlake, earned defensive MVP honors in the 2019 and 2020 UIL 6A State Championship games. In 2020, he even intercepted Southlake Carroll quarterback and future teammate Quinn Ewers. A former walk-on, Taaffe played in all 14 games in 2023 with nine starts. He recorded 48 tackles and three interceptions.
Mukuba, a senior transfer from Clemson who attended Austin (Texas) LBJ, was On3’s No. 43 overall prospect, No. 2 safety, and No. 6 player in Texas in the 2021 class. During his senior season, he helped the Jaguars advance to the state semifinals before falling to Lindale. That was one of the deepest runs made by an Austin ISD school in some time and set the foundation for LBJ’s run to the finals the following season. Mukuba earned Freshman all-America and All-ACC honors for the Tigers in 2021. He was the first true freshman defensive back to start a season opener for Clemson since freshman became eligible to compete in varsity matchups in 1972.
Barron, a fifth-year senior from Pflugerville (Texas) Connally, is the heart and soul of the Longhorn defense. Having played multiple positions throughout his career, Barron is the likely starter at Star but could play at a number of different spots throughout the secondary based on his versatility. A bright spot on a lackluster Connally team, Barron did it all for Cougars. He was ranked as the No. 413 overall prospect in the 2020 On3 Industry Ranking.
While the three did not battle on the playing field during their prep careers, they all are familiar with each other through proximity and common trainers.
In addition to these three Austinites, others from the Lone Star State’s capital city could theoretically join them on the field. Westlake’s Ethan Burke and Colton Vasek could man the EDGE spots on a defense with the Austin trio, and a fellow Chap in Taaffe, behind them in the secondary. Their presence in front of Taaffe, Mukuba, and Barron would a defensive group with almost half of its members from the local area.
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Preseason camp will dictate plenty about playing time, combinations, and much more. But one realistic combination could bring a lot of 512 flavor to the defensive backfield.
