Miami Hurricanes TE Jaleel Skinner details his flip from Alabama

The Miami Hurricanes flipping 2022 tight end Jaleel Skinner from Alabama early in the Mario Cristobal tenure surprised most college football recruiting analysts. On Thursday, Skinner spoke with reporters about what went into his decision to announce his commitment to Miami after previously being committed to Alabama.

Skinner confirmed that TEs coach Stephen Field with head coach Mario Cristobal were the relationships that helped secure his decision to commit to the Miami Hurricanes. Field is the only holdover from the previous Miami staff. After Skinner committed to Miami, Field was the first person to call Skinner.

Field continued to keep in contact with Skinner after his commitment to Alabama. The commitment from Skinner was a big boost for the 2022 Miami class that eventually finished 15th nationally. Skinner was the 103rd ranked player, third TE and 15th in Florida out of IMG Academy for 2022. Miami has fifth-year TE Will Mallory and rising sophomore Elijah Arroyo to give the Hurricanes three elite pass catchers.

Skinner went through the timeline on Thursday of his Miami Hurricanes recruitment. The relationship with Cristobal and Skinner predated his hire at Miami. It has often been said that recruiting is about relationships. The decision by Skinner to flip from Alabama to Miami happened when everything came together.

"“The number one thing was Steve Field. Because he’s been on me since the day…Because remember earlier last year I committed to Alabama. Coach Fields was the first person to call me after I committed. He was the first person to call me. Nobody from (the) Alabama staff called me.He was the first…The number two thing was them the hire coach Cristobal. I was the first recruit he came to see after he got the job when I was at IMG. That meant a lot to me that show how much…I meant to him because me and him already had a really strong relationship coming into it.After he got a job here that helped seal the deal…The number the three thing, the third thing would be my family’s comfortability here because that was one big thing with me if I’m comfortable here and my family’s comfortable here I know I can be successful here.”"

Skinner has impressed the Miami staff throughout the spring. The skills that Arroyo, Mallory and Skinner have as receivers provide offensive coordinator Josh Gattis with multiple options offensively. Expect Skinner to be a factor as a receiver for Miami in 2021. The legacy of TE U should continue.

Miami is expected to have a greater presence recruiting with the elite programs under Cristobal. Cristobal routinely signed top 10 classes at Oregon. With a far greater number of prospects in his home region, Cristobal should be able to elevate the classes he signs with Miami. Skinner is the beginning.