Mikkel Skinner turned down a lot of offers to sign with Kentucky. (Trey Stewart Photo)
Vince Marrow is never shy about praising a player but he really likes signee Mikkel Skinner of Greer, S.C.
A friend told Marrow about the 6-4, 225-pound tight end when he was verbally committed to Cincinnati and the UK recruiting coordinator eventually got him to flip to UK.
“Skinner is probably the best athletic tight end I have signed since I got here,” Marrow said. “This kid is a four-star (recruit) He runs 4.66 (seconds in the 40-yard dash). South Carolina and Ohio State came in on him hard.
“I am telling you I was holding my breath (until he signed). You just don’t steal a kid from another SEC school (South Carolina) and they really wanted him. He is going to be a really good player.”
He was ranked as the No. 8 overall recruit in South Carolina and 20th best tight end nationally. He played receiver, tight end, running back, linebacker and defensive end at Riverside High School. He caught 44 passes for 819 yards and 12 touchdowns this season and also had 31 carries for 321 yards and six scores. On defense, he had 12 tackles and five sacks.
Skinner also plays basketball and runs track. His basketball team reached the South Carolina AAAA title game in 2023. He had 11 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks in the semifinals. He ran the 200-meter dash in 23.78 seconds as a junior.
Kentucky has had two tight ends, Khamari Anderson and Jordan Dingle, enter the transfer portal. Dingle is from Bowling Green and Anderson was a four-star recruit out of Michigan.
“I know I have put a lot of good tight ends in that room. Guys want the ball. I met with Khamari. He is 6-5, 252. There will be a lot of people that want him,” Marrow said.
That leaves UK with Josh Kattus, who saw his younger brother de-commit from Kentucky and sign with Clemson, and Willie Rodriguez to go with Skinner next season.
“Having Kattus and Willie in there is two pretty good tight ends. We will probably take another one in the portal but we will be okay,” Marrow said.
3 Responses
Stoops doesn’t know how to use a TE. He thinks they are for blocking and nothing more.
Stoops doesn’t appear to know how to use much of anything properly anymore. Is there a SEC program that has headed South quicker than us since beginning of past season? We have lost some decent talent and seem to have to be settling for marginal talent in return. Several coaching status’s are, or should be, in flux. Is there anyone out there in the BBN that thinks we have a chance to exceed 2024 results?
Skinner will only last a year at kentucky! We never target the tight ends which are there as a safety net if nothing else is open usually the tight ends are open! Especially with this guys speed! What kills me is Anderson and Rodriguez were probably the best 2 tight ends on the team! Kattus is garbage! I would have played Anderson over Kattus but for some reason Kattus starts with the worst grade in the SEC. I think they love Kattus as a person and that is why he gets playing time! That has to be the only reason he gets playing time! He can’t block and he’s to slow to get open I really don’t understand it. I heard he can salsa dance and that’s about all! Watch Anderson go somewhere else and absolutely destroy it!