Miami football pulls shocker flipping 4-star TE Jaleel Skinner from Alabama

Mario Cristobal pulled off a shocker on Friday afternoon when four-star tight end Jaleel Skinner flipped to the Miami football program from Alabama. The addition of Skinner vaults the 2022 Miami signing class from 62nd to 49th. More elite signees for Miami in 2022 are likely on the way.

Skinner took a second official visit to Miami last weekend. Second official visits are allowed when a program makes a coaching change. Cristobal and Miami TEs coach Stephen Field are credited with Skinner signing with the Hurricanes. Skinner flipping to Miami over Alabama is an enormous early recruiting win for Cristobal.

Skinner is the 98th rated overall prospect and third-ranked TE for 2022. The flip of Skinner provides Miami three highly-rated TEs on their roster with 2022 fifth-year senior Will Mallory and sophomore Elijah Arroyo. The legend of TE U will continue to thrive. Skinner said the history for Miami at TE was a huge factor in his signing.

Andrew Ivins of 247 Sports said Skinner should be viewed as a developmental prospect who can contribute as a receiver as a freshman. The addition of Skinner to the 2022 Class builds major recruiting momentum for the Miami football program. Miami is continuing to recruit several other major elite prospects.

Four-star wide receiver Kevin Coleman, four-star defensive end Cyrus Moss from Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, five-star Monsignor Pace defensive lineman Shemar Stewart, who is expected to take his second official visit next month per Ivins are all recruits to watch between now and traditional National Signing Day on February 2.

Coleman and Moss are expected to sign their National Letters of Intent on Friday and announce where they will play in college at the Army All-American Bowl on January 8. Cristobal has quickly made an impact in recruiting as most national college football analysts predicted he would do with the Hurricanes.

Four-star DE Nyjalik Kelly signed with Miami on Early National Signing Day on Wednesday. Kelly is the highest-rated 2022 Miami signee with Skinner second. If Coleman signs with Miami as expected next month, the Hurricanes class would move up to 37th nationally ahead of College Football Playoff participant Cincinnati.