The Florida Gators received huge news earlier this month when they received a transfer from LSU tight end Arik Gilbert but the coaching staff is looking for another tight end in the 2022 class.
2022 tight end Jaleel Skinner (6-5, 210, Greer, SC. High) is one of the Gators top targets for the 2022 class and he recently named the Gators his leader over Clemson and others.
“Florida is my leader,” Skinner said. “One thing that helped make Florida my leader was because I talk to them a lot, they keep it real with me and I love talking to them. I love what they have going on down there and how they use their tight ends there.”
Tight ends coach Tim Brewster and Dan Mullen are the ones leading the charge for Skinner who says having Mullen personally recruit him is big.
“Coach Brewster and Coach Mullen talk to me the most,” he said in his talks with Florida. “Not many other colleges have their head coaches talking to me much so you can say it’s a part of why they’re (my leader).”
Mullen has also been telling Skinner just how the Gators could use him in the offense in the Swamp.
“He’s telling me that he needs guys like me to come down to Gainesville,” Skinner said on the message from Mullen. “He said I could be like another Kyle Pitts for them and I watched all of their games last year and noticed how great Kyle Pitts was.”
Brewster talks to Skinner daily and the two are developing a good relationship because of the way Brewster talks to the tight end.
“He’s keeping it real with me, we talk a lot about real-life stuff,” he said on the message from Brewster. “We talk about football too, he’s saying that he only wants to recruit the best and he needs me down in Gainesville. He always has great energy and keeps it real.”
Despite naming Florida his leader, Skinner isn’t sure when he will make a commitment as he wants to take some visits first.
“No, I really don’t, I’m just waiting to see if they open up the dead period in April or not,” Skinner said on when he wants to make a decision. “We’ve talked about a virtual but we haven’t set one up yet.”