Miami Hurricanes 2022 signee Jaleel Skinner named Polynesian Bowl “create-a-player”

Miami Hurricanes 2022 signee, four-star tight end Jaleel Skinner was named by Woody Womack of Rivals.Com as the“Create-A-Player” at the Polynesian Bowl. Skinner is 6-5, 216 pounds and has a wingpsan of 80 inches. Miami signed Skinner after flipping him from Alabama. Skinner would be the Madden prototype.

In the 247 Sports composite rankings, Skinner is the 93rd ranked player, third TE and 14th in Florida out of IMG Academy. Skinner joins a Miami TE room with former top 10 signees Elijah Arroyo and Will Mallory at the position. Skinner has a higher talent grade than Arroyo or Mallory.

Miami has excellent size and athleticism at TE. Arroyo is 6-4, 235 pounds and Mallory 6-5, 245. Miami often used two TE sets in the past. Skinner frequently played WR in high school. The Hurricanes are still looking for an offensive coordinator. Arroyo, Mallory and Skinner will provide multiple options.

Skinner showed his athleticism at Greer High School in South Carolina before transfering to IMG. As a multi sport athlete, Greer played cornerback, WR and TE on the football team and also participated in basketball. Skinner showed his skills on a long reception in the Polynesian Bowl.

"CREATE-A-PLAYER“The Miami signee looks like he could easily be an elite level basketball player with his build and in his uniform he looks like he could walk right into a game of Madden. Skinner has elite size and speed and he flashed both by hauling in two passes for 54 yards during Saturday’s game.Consistency catching the ball has always been a bugaboo for Skinner, but if he continues to work on that aspect of his game it wouldn’t be shocking to see him be a star at the next level and beyond.”"

Skinner is going have to improve his consistency catching the ball to compete for snaps against Arroyo and Mallory as a freshman. With Mallory entering his final season, the future for Miami at TE will be strong with Arroyo and Skinner as the projected players to get most of the snaps at the position in 2023.

Arroyo, Mallory and Skinner all provide Miami with excellent athleticism at TE. Miami being known as TE U should continue through at least the 2024 season. Arroyo and Skinner could both potentially leave early for the NFL Draft if they live up to their projections out of high school.

With the returns of Arroyo and Mallory, Skinner will be able to learn from them and not have the pressure of playing immediately. Skinner showed his skills at the Polynesian Bowl. Cristobal and TEs coach Stephen Field getting Skinner to flip from Alabama was huge. It will be a huge dividend if Skinner reaches his potential.