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Louisiana Safety Mukuamu Compared to Tre Flowers, Enjoyed Visits to Stillwater

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As Oklahoma State fills out its class of 2018, safety remains a high priority. The Pokes don’t have any juniors or redshirt freshmen on their roster currently, but they do have an influx of players coming in both the 2017 and 2018 classes.

After inking Thabo Mwaniki, Malcom Rodriguez, Kris McCune and Tre Sterling in 2017, OSU has already added Kanion Williams for 2018. Could Louisiana recruit Israel Mukuamu be next?

Mukuamu is a top 40 safety and a top 25 recruit in the state of Louisiana. The kind of kid that usually ends up at a LSU or Mississippi State. But Mukuamu is a bit different. Despite going to the same high school Keondre Wudtee attended, he actually grew up in South Carolina and only recently moved.

Mukuamu has made two visits to Stillwater so far. One for junior day and once for the spring game.

“I liked it a lot because it’s a college town, the town is surrounded by the school,” Mukuamu told Pistols Firing. “I like it a lot. It’s very quiet there so I’ll be able to focus a lot. I like the coaching staff a lot. They’re very serious about me, and they’re just great people.

“When I went up there, Coach Gundy sat me in his office and told me he that he thinks I’m the guy for the program and that no matter what they’re going to keep a spot for me. They’re just waiting on me. Coach Hammerschmidt actually compares me to the safety there now, Tre Flowers. He said I could potentially come in early, play early and be the next him because he’s looking for another tall DB like him to play that strong safety position.”

At nearly 6’5 and 187 pounds, Mukuamu has a huge frame for a defensive back. It’s something he thinks he can leverage to his advantage at the next level.

“I also look at Richard Sherman because he’s a tall player,” said Mukuamu. “I also can play corner, too. I look at him because he’s tall. I think I can be like the next college Jalen Ramsey as far as playing safety and corner.”

As far as what his decision will entail, the soon-to-be high school senior noted the values that are most important to him.

“A coaching staff and football team that’s really family-based,” said Mukuamu. “It’s all about family to them. Education and a place I can play early and win championships.” He wants to major in sports medicine said he knows “Oklahoma State has a great sports medicine education there.”

“I feel like it’s going to be a life-changing decision because Oklahoma State and a couple other schools are also tight on me so it’s going to be very hard.”

Those others include Ole Miss, South Carolina, Purdue and Indiana. And they could include more soon. Mukuamu is planning on going to camps at Alabama and Florida State this summer and is the rare high schooler who has been given an opportunity to showcase his skills in high schools to schools from different parts of the country.

He said when he was still in South Carolina, he mostly heard from SEC schools but since moving west he’s been contacted by more Big 12 and Pac-12 teams.

OSU might be able to provide an amenity those other schools can’t, though. There is a relationship in place already with Wudtee. Even though they never went to school together at Parkway High in Bossier City, Louisiana, Mukuamu is very aware of No. 11 and said they have become closer since OSU started looking into him.

“I talk to him a lot now,” said Mukuamu. “He found out that I was being recruited by Oklahoma State so we talk a lot now. I was working out with him two days ago. He looked pretty good. He’s got a zip on that ball. That’s a college quarterback.”

It will be interesting to see where Mukuamu’s recruitment goes from here. South Carolina was the presumed favorite until he moved out of state. Now it feels very much up in the air. Combine him with Williams, and that’s a great duo of future defensive backs. There’s some real length and athleticism there.

Mukuamu has a big decision to make soon, and he’s keeping his options open. He did assure us of one thing, though, about where the next 4-5 years of his life play out.

“I’m going to go where I’m wanted.”

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