Jaleel Skinner explains decision to flip Alabama commitment to Miami

Former IMG Academy star tight end Jaleel Skinner shocked the recruiting scene after switching up his commitment from Alabama to Miami before enrolling with the Hurricanes for the spring 2022 semester.

The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder committed to Nick Saban and co. back in early October over Miami, Texas and Florida State, and they looked set to land him. But when Miami hired Mario Cristobal and he put together his new staff, it threw a wrench into Saban’s plans.

“The number one thing was Steve Field,” Skinner told reporters this week. “Because 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 [hiring] 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 the job here, that helped seal the deal.”

Steve Field, the tight ends coach at Miami, going the program prior to the 2019 season after spending the 2018 season with the Oregon Ducks under Cristobal and has helped the Hurricanes sign top players at that position and even churn out a future NFL player in Brevin Jordan and looks to do the same with the near 6-foot-5 Skinner.

The four-star recruit began his high school career at Greer (S.C.) High School before transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Before choosing to head to IMG Academy, Skinner was a three-sport athlete, racking up double-digit scholarship offers in football, he was selected all-state by the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association for his play in the 2021 season. He also excelled in track, running the 100-meter dash and performing in the high jump and long lump.

Skinner ultimately decided to enroll early for the spring 2022 semester at Miami to participate in spring practices and workouts ahead of his freshman season.

Now that Skinner is on campus and has a spring of Miami football experience under his belt, he believes his top two reasons have been validated. Now, a third, more personal reason is making Skinner feel even better about his ultimate decision to play for Cristobal rather than with Saban.

“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 said.