FSU football: Blue-chip Jaleel Skinner lists Noles in top five schools

FSU football coaches have done a great job of locking in the majority of the 2022 recruiting class.

The Noles have 15 commitments while being in a great position with several blue-chip players to complete one of the most important recruiting classes for FSU football in some time.

One of their top targets is blue-chip Jaleel Skinner. Skinner lists as a tight end, but FSU coaches are recruiting him as a wide receiver.

The South Carolina product announced a final five list of schools Wednesday evening via Twitter:

Skinner released a top 10 list on May 24, and it looks like Oregon, LSU, Oklahoma, Arizona State, and the Florida Gators have been eliminated.

The latter is among many gaffs made by Dan Mullen and the Florida coaching staff. Skinner spent several days with FSU commits Travis Hunter Jr., Sam McCall, and AJ Duffy  at a camp in California before the entire crew visited FSU for the Midnight Madness event.

Skinner spent nearly a week in Tallahassee, and the crystal ball predictions began to flow for the Noles. FSU football holds 80 percent of the 247 Crystal Ball Predictions, with the others to Clemson and Florida.

However, the prediction for Clemson came in October 2020. The Tigers are the home state school, so it’ll always be tough to count them out.

I still believe the Noles are in the driver’s seat in this recruitment, but the main competition will be Alabama and Clemson down the stretch.

The good news is Skinner has already used official visits to Alabama, Texas, and Miami. He plans to officially visit the Noles on  September 5 for the Notre Dame game.

I think it’ll come down to relationships with the coaching staff and the bonds formed with FSU commits, especially Travis Hunter Jr.

It doesn’t hurt that AJ Duffy ranks as one of the best quarterbacks in the 2022 recruiting cycle either.

If the Noles can add Skinner to the recruiting class, it would be a significant win for Mike Norvell and the coaching staff.