Film Don't Lie | Armel Mukam
Things have been quiet on the recruiting front for Notre Dame and that’s typically the case during fall camp. That made it a perfect time for some news to pop and pop it did with the Irish grabbing a surprise commitment from defensive end Armel Mukam.
Previously committed to Stanford, Mukam is a prospect who has not played a lot of football. He has played only one full season and moved to the United States from Canada (Quebec) to play his junior season. His raw talent is obvious, though, and he has exciting physical traits that have earned him offers from a dozen Power 5 programs, including Notre Dame.
I’m a big fan of his potential and I like this pickup.
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 250
Projected Position: Defensive line
ISD Grade: 88 (3-star)
National Average Grade: 86.6 (3-star)
What he does best:
Mukam doesn’t just flash, he shows consistent twitch. His first step is very good and he wins with speed off the ball as a pass rusher.
He displays the ability to run the hoop to get to the quarterback. An edge rusher can’t affect the quarterback if he can’t turn the corner and Mukam can do that.
He’s a high motor player who has the athleticism that can help him grow in a variety of ways to win as a pass rusher. He’s got good lateral quickness and this spin move could end up being pretty nasty once he perfects it.
What he needs to improve:
Anyone who has played as little as he has will have some work to do. You can see the effort with his motor as a run defender, but punch, hand placement, and block recognition all look new to him (as they should) in the run game.
He’s starting from the beginning with his hands as a pass rusher, but that is not uncommon even for guys who have played a lot more football than him. He wins with his athleticism and power right now and he can take off once he establishes some initial moves and counters.
What’s his ceiling?
Notre Dame has signed some projects on the defensive line in recent years and targeted a few others. I would put Mukam in the category of a former target David Ojabo as a raw prospect rather than an Alex Ehrensberger or Jason Onye. Mukam is someone that I believe could end up being a 4-star before this cycle is over.
Consistent twitch can go a long way with any defensive linemen and he’s someone who brings that to the table. If he works hard at the finer points of the game, I could see eventually him leaping over some others on the depth chart for the Irish. He has legitimate NFL potential and has the tools to develop into a starter for Notre Dame.
He could be someone who eventually grows into a 3-technique defensive tackle, but I see him as a strongside end. My Notre Dame comp for him is Ade Ogundeji, but I think his junior film is quite a bit better than Ogundeji’s.
Who he could be:
Former Notre Dame defensive end Ade Ogundeji
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