After one year with the Texas Longhorns, Andrew Mukaba became an NFL Draft pick this spring. While he has been busy preparing for his rookie season with the Philadelphia Eagles, Mukaba has also kept up with his old program. That includes the next wave of talent, such as three-star safety Yaheim Riley, for whom Mukaba has high expectations.
The talented safety recently posted a picture of himself in Longhorn gear on his X account. Mukaba reposted the photo with the caption, “The next big thing to come outta Austin.”
Like Mukaba, Riley is hoping to leave his mark in Austin. Before committing to Texas, he also drew interest from Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Houston, and Vanderbilt. He was a coveted prospect due to his speed, which should be an asset for the Longhorns. The only thing standing between Riley and the Longhorns is his senior season.
While Riley and Mukaba have already shown a unique bond, their similarities go beyond social media. Riley has kept a close eye on Mikala’s career, which has served as a source of inspiration for the Texas native. That played a role in him ending up in Austin.
“Just seeing him transfer from Clemson, to see how big he blew up just within a year. He paved the way for me a little bit with me going to LBJ,” Riley said in an interview with Cory Mose of KVUE.
Due to Mukaba’s post, excitement is building over what Riley’s future holds. Mukaba knows what it takes to succeed in the SEC, which will be valuable advice for Riley. If Riley can follow in the footsteps of his idol, then he will have a successful career as a Longhorn that will be full of exciting moments.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Former Longhorn Andrew Mukaba has high expectations for Yaheim Riley
Reporting by Jamie Gatlin, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
