Riverside football's Mikkel Skinner moved to receiver after growing 3 inches, has 3 TD catches in opener
Nine touches. Four touchdowns.
That kind of ratio demands attention if it wasn't there already.
Mikkel Skinner’s move from running back to wide receiver this season paid off immediately for Riverside last week in a 49-7 win against Travelers Rest.
Skinner led the Warriors last season in rushing with 582 yards, 6.1 per carry and six touchdowns. Riverside put him at wide receiver for this season after he grew three inches to make him 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds.
The Warriors (1-0) play Friday night at J.L. Mann (1-0) in one of the top high school football games in the Upstate of Week 1 of the regular season.
In his 2023 debut, Skinner had five catches. Three went for touchdowns. He also lined up in the backfield, his more familiar spot, and carried the ball four times. Those resulted in 129 yards and another TD.
“Any time he touches it, he's liable to take it to the house,” Riverside offensive coordinator Mario Cusano said. “I have a certain number of touches I want to give him each game. Nine is the minimum.”
Riverside has a bigger test against the Patriots, but the Warriors plan to use their best offensive weapon in the same way. J.L. Mann is No. 6 and Riverside is No. 12 in the 864Huddle Super 25 rankings.
“He’s a versatile guy,” Cusano said. “We want to use him as a receiver out wide, but we can move him to running back. He understands what we want on each play. He’s just one of those natural football guys.”
Skinner has offers from Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina and Tennessee Tech.
Greenville County high school football players to watch in 2023: Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Offensive line | Defensive line | Linebacker | Defensive back
“Mikkel will be a Power Five guy, for sure,” Cusano said. “I think he’s on the radar of just about every Power Five school.”
Skinner has made official visits to Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and South Carolina. He will be at North Carolina for the Sept. 2 opener against the Gamecocks.
“It’s a new year and a new start for me,” Skinner said. “For me to be able to get four touchdowns in the first game, I think that’s just the beginning. I feel like I have been underestimated. This was a message saying, 'I’m coming this year.’ ”
Skinner said he lined up at wide receiver on about 70 percent of the offensive plays against Travelers Rest. Even when he didn't get the ball as a running back, the threat of him being back there opened up other things for Riverside.
“On this team, we push each other hard,” Skinner said. “If you’re not getting the ball, block for your teammates.”
Skinner has already developed an affection for playing wide receiver. Three touchdowns in your first game will do that. But he said he feels it’s a better opportunity to showcase his talent.
“I can show my speed and an ability to jump for the ball," he said. "At wide receiver, it’s much more on me. If I don’t get the ball, it’s because I didn’t get open.”
Skinner said the initial attention received from colleges was a result of senior defensive lineman Marcus Downs, who has committed to Georgia Tech.
“He is the one who got people looking at Riverside,” Skinner said. “What I learned from him is that you can only control yourself. Don’t let anything change who you are. Just be you and let it flow in. Don’t get full of yourself. You’ve got to stay humble through the entire process and just see where it goes.”
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Riverside football: Mikkel Skinner moved to WR after growing 3 inches
