While the Kentucky Wildcats have faced some challenges on the field, head coach Mark Stoops has been excelling in recruiting, recently securing commitments from several top prospects in the class of 2025.
One key position they aimed to strengthen was tight end. Although they have depth at the position, assistant coach Vince Marrow identified a player with the talent and style they desired. The exciting part? They flipped a commitment from Scott Satterfield and Cincinnati.
On Wednesday, four-star tight end Mikkel Skinner committed to Kentucky, choosing the Wildcats over offers from Cincinnati, South Carolina, App State, and others. Ranked 182nd overall in the 2025 class by 247 Sports, he’s also the 11th tight end in the rankings.
After previously decommitting from Cincinnati, Skinner’s eventual switch to Kentucky was anticipated, though it took a bit longer than expected.
In an interview with Chris Beasmore from A Sea of Blue, Skinner discussed his commitment and why he chose to flip from Cincinnati.
“Coach Marrow was a big part of it; he explained how they plan to use me and how I could make a significant impact on their program,” Skinner shared.
He emphasized that it wasn’t just Marrow; the entire Kentucky coaching staff played a role in his decision.
“I love everyone, from the strength coaches to the head coach,” Skinner said.
Regarding his aspirations at Kentucky, he added, “I want to bring a different type of tight end. I’m very hybrid and can stretch the field anywhere. I aim to create challenges for opposing teams in their game planning.”
Looking ahead to next year, Skinner expressed his goals: “I want to be one of the top freshmen in the country, make an impact on the field, and improve both as a player and a person.”
As his senior year approaches its end, he hopes to achieve significant milestones in high school. “I want to earn all-state honors and help my program achieve something it hasn’t done in a long time—go to state,” Skinner said.
He also noted that he plans to enroll early at the University of Kentucky in December.
At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, the Greer, SC native hasn’t been on Kentucky’s radar for long, receiving an offer on July 10 and completing an unofficial visit to Lexington this fall, which seemed to seal the deal.
Despite the commitment, the recruitment may not be over until the signing period, as his home-state Gamecocks are still actively pursuing him.
Marrow and Stoops have successfully fended off Shane Beamer and his staff for several recruits in the past—let’s see if they can do it again.
Welcome to BBN, Mikkel! Check out some highlights of him in action!
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