Mikkel Skinner was not disappointed. The class of 2025 athlete took a trip to Tennessee over the weekend for a visit.
As part of Tennessee’s first junior day following the recruiting dead period, Skinner was among a slew of prospects in Knoxville.
The South Carolina native left Knoxville with a good feeling about the program.
“Tennessee, I feel like is a big family all in one and is a good environment altogether,” Skinner said.
The 6-foot-3 athlete mainly plays on the offensive side of the ball for Riverside High School. To no surprise, Tennessee’s offense caught his eye. Jalin Hyatt’s record-breaking season last year makes any offensive player have instant interest in Tennessee.
The visit didn’t just focus on how the play will impact the field though. Along with lunch and a tour of campus, Tennessee told Skinner how they would better him as a person.
“Most importantly, they showed us how they would take care of us and make us better as not only a player but a man,” he said.
As a sophomore, Skinner finished with eight total touchdowns. He impacted te game out of the backfield, going for 601 yards on 86 carries, as well as a receiver, catching 17 passes for 264 yards.
Tennessee’s staff have gotten in on Skinner’s recruitment early, and they have impressed him. He referred to the Vols’ staff as “very nice and cool people to be around.”
“(My) favorite part of the visit is meeting the coaches and them telling us about themselves,” Skinner said.
The prospects also got to put on Tennessee uniforms and get a taste of what their future could be at Tennessee, another one of Skinner’s favorite parts.
Early in his recruitment, Skinner is keeping his options open and heading into visits with an open mind. Tennessee has made a good impression on him early.
“There are some big schools that I have visits with but it’s all a process for me to see what school is best for me on and off the field,” he said.
