Clemson football: Nick Saban offers in-state target and the heat is on

Nick Saban offers in-state Clemson football target and the heat is on

The Clemson football program is going to be entrenched in a battle with the Alabama Crimson Tide for a top prospect in the state.

4-star 2022 tight end Jaleel Skinner announced on Twitter over the weekend that Alabama had presented him with a scholarship offer.

According to reports from Tigernet’s David Hood, Skinner said he and Saban had held a Zoom meeting and that the offer was ‘different.’ Skinner said Saban was the first head coach to offer him personally and that it was a special moment for him as a prospect.

When Saban offers a recruit personally, you know that it’s a big deal. Alabama is now a legitimate threat for Skinner and that should be recognized.

Clemson football was already in the midst of a battle for the highly-touted prospect

Clemson isn’t the only school who has been recruiting Skinner heavily during this cycle.

Skinner has shown great interest in Florida and the Gators have actually been considered the ‘leader’ for his services by many recruiting insiders.

Now, the Tigers won’t just have to fend off Florida to land the prospect. They’ll have to fend off a heavy surge coming from Alabama.

Skinner shows great length and size at the position, but also is extremely athletic. He’s a prospect who has the strength to be a solid blocker, but the athleticism to play as a receiver. In today’s game, tight ends are being utilized like receivers more than ever before and that’s exactly what we’re going to see out of him when he does reach the collegiate level.

Skinner is rated as the No. 3 tight end in the country and the No. 97 overall player, according to 247 Sports’ composite player rankings. He is ranked as the No. 3 overall player in the state of South Carolina.