The Lone Star 50: No. 44 Houston LB Donavan Mutin patrols for the Cougars defense

Original photo courtesy of Houston Football

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The college football season in Texas starts a week earlier than normal with a Week 0 matchup between North Texas and UTEP. To celebrate us making it through another off-season, we’re counting down the 50 most important players in Texas every day until Aug. 27. The list isn’t necessarily about which players are the best, though talent plays a major factor in most important. 

No. 44: Donavan Mutin, Houston senior linebacker 

The History

A native of nearby Klein Collins High School in Spring, Mutin didn’t need much time to adjust to life as a Cougar. He was a three-star prep prospect who was named to the 2017 Houston Chronicle All-Greater Houston First Team after earning District 15-6A MVP honors as a senior. Mutin saw action in 10 games as a true freshman in reserve duty. He worked his way into the starting lineup for good as a sophomore in 2019 when he started 12 games at MIKE linebacker. He was third on the team that year with 61 tackles.

The 2020 season was forgettable due to the pandemic and an injury that caused him to miss the final five games of an eight-game season. Mutin registered 22 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and a sack during that season. The lone bright spot was a 10-tackle effort against BYU. Mutin rebounded with a second-team All-American Athletic Conference campaign in 2021 after leading the team with 77 tackles in 13 starts. He also forced three fumbles, which was second on the team. Mutin is a two-time team captain. 

The Skillset

The simplest way to describe Mutin in football terms is as a “dude”. The 6-0, 230-pound middle linebacker leaves marks on opposing ball carriers, literally. He’s a hard-nosed defender who controls the middle of the defense by blending old-school toughness with modern athleticism. He’s stout against the run and not a liability against the pass. He’s also one of the unquestioned leaders inside a program that underwent a culture change over the last two to three seasons. That’s a skill that’s often overlooked. 

The Impact

The Cougars are better when Mutin is on the field. His presence alone calms the nerves and provides a sense of security behind an aggressive defensive line. The Third Ward Defense only allowed 20.4 points per game and 3.4 yards per rush. Teams only scored 13 rushing touchdowns in 14 games against a Mutin-led defense. Houston went 1-4 in the five games Mutin missed at the end of 2020. The Cougars were 11-2 in the 13 games he participated in during 2021. 

PREVIOUSLY ON THE LONE STAR 50 COUNTDOWN

 

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