South Carolina football flip target Mikkel Skinner decommitted from Cincinnati on Friday ahead of his weekend visit to Columbia.
South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer and his team have been working to switch 4-star tight end/wide receiver Mikkel Skinner from his commitment to the Cincinnati Bearcats. While there has been no word on a follow-up commitment, Skinner announced Friday afternoon that he was withdrawing from his commitment to the Bearcats.
Skinner, a Riverside High School graduate from Greer, has committed to Cincinnati since June, but the Kentucky Wildcats and South Carolina Gamecocks have been vying for a flip from the class of 2025 standout.
The Palmetto State native is a hybrid tight end and wide receiver who can bring stature (6’3″ and 220 pounds) and pass-catching ability to a college program. He is rated as a 4-star tight end by On3, 247Sports, and ESPN and as a 3-star wide receiver by Rivals. Skinner has played some running back, too, but his college future likely is as an athletic, pass-catching tight end of a big-bodied possession receiver.
The Gamecocks had been interested in Skinner for a while, but a scholarship offer did not come until July. Despite this, South Carolina has a legitimate chance to earn his commitment. After visiting Columbia for the season opener, Skinner was in Lexington last week for USC-UK, and he will return to Williams-Brice Stadium this weekend for the College GameDay showdown between Carolina and LSU as part of a busy recruiting weekend for the South Carolina football program.
As a player, Skinner is a matchup nightmare. Defensive backs are frequently too small to accommodate his size. Linebackers are frequently too sluggish to match his pace. If employed appropriately, he has the potential to be a very effective player at the next level.He shares a lot of traits with former Gamecock Jaheim Bell, a player who finished his career with the Florida State Seminoles before being drafted by the New England Patriots.
Skinner, like many good receivers and tight ends, is a good basketball player who played on the wing for a Riverside team that advanced to the State Championship Game during his junior year. Skinner is strong and can high-point the ball in the air, which are characteristics that appear to be common among prospects who play both football and basketball.
