LOOK: Alabama commit Jaleel Skinner gives Hook 'Em hand sign at Texas

Greer (S.C.) IMG Academy five-star tight end Jaleel Skinner surprised the recruiting world when it was announced he would visit Texas this weekend.

Skinner committed to Alabama just eight days ago on Oct. 8, and his trip to Austin wasn’t publicly confirmed until this week.

Whether anything comes out of this weekend will remain to be seen, but Skinner was photographed flashing the Hook ‘Em hand sign.

Alabama commit Jaleel Skinner in attendance today pic.twitter.com/J0VSbXptdF

— Mike Roach (@MikeRoach247) October 16, 2021

Why is Jaleel Skinner in Austin?

On3’s Gerry Hamilton talked with Jaleel Skinner’s mother on Thursday, who said the trip had been in the works and Skinner wanted to follow through on they said.

“Texas has been working hard to get him back on campus, even after he committed,” Hamilton said. “(Tight ends coach) Jeff Banks has done a very good job with the father in this recruitment and obviously isn’t giving up.”

Skinner said he committed to Alabama because he wants to be pushed and compete everyday.

He told On3’s Chad Simmons that going to Alabama is a business decision, just like his decision to transfer to IMG.

“Players don’t go to Alabama to play around, you go for business,” Skinner said. “It is like going to work. You have a job to do at Alabama.

Arch Manning, Evan Stewart are also at the Texas game

Jaleel Skinner is one of multiple five-star recruits at the game, along with Liberty (Texas) Frisco wideout Evan Stewart, Houston North Shore cornerback Denver Harris and New Orleans Isidore Newman quarterback Arch Manning.

Stewart is the Longhorns’ top target in the 2022 recruiting cycle and Manning is the top target in the 2023 cycle.

“Evan Stewart is an elite, offensive touchdown-scoring machine,” Hamilton said. “He is the type of guy that helps take you from 10 to 12 wins because he puts touchdowns on the board. It would be a massive recruiting win.”