Athletic Profile
Height: 6036
Weight: 209
Arm Length: 32”
40 Time: N/A
10 Yard Split: N/A
Vertical: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone: N/A
Shuttle: N/A
Relative Athletic Score: N/A
* Indicates Recorded At Pro Day
Statistics
2022: 52 TKL (12 MIS%) - 19 STOP - 10.4 Y/REC - 1 TD - 3 PBU - 4 INT - 40.1 NFL
2021: 72 TKL (12 MIS%) - 39 STOP - 14.7 Y/REC - 2 TD - 4 PBU - 2 INT - 91.8 NFL
Snap Count:
DL: 28
BOX: 811
FS: 623
SLOT: 336
CB: 26
Pros
Size Profile
Top Notch Pursuit/Motor
Sideline to Sideline Speed
Tackling Range
Alignment Versatility
Cons
Instincts
Change of Direction Skills
Man Coverage
Hip Hipped & Lacks Flexibility
Assignment Versatility
Summary
JL Skinner committed to Boise State in 2019 as a three star recruit out of San Diego. The 6’ 4” safety lettered in four seasons for Boise State, starting and earning All-Mountain West Honors in 2021 and 2022.
Skinner possesses a rare blend of size and athleticism for the safety position. He has the frame of a weak side linebacker with the sideline to sideline speed of a defensive back. Skinner is a long strider who at top speed can run in the open field with much smaller players. He also possesses an exceptional motor leading to a large amount of chase down and hustle tackles. As a run defender he has the size to take on blocks in the hole and the speed to play as a flow player. Skinner is not afraid to leverage his frame in run defense and has no issues getting physical. His large wingspan gives him an impressive tackling range as well. Skinner lined up at a variety of positions in college but never looked comfortable at any one of them. He struggles to read and react from a deep safety position. Skinner is a tick slow to trigger downhill and fill in the run game. Despite his size his run game impact leaves some to be desired.
As a coverage player Skinner uses his speed and length to be a disruptor in zone. He has the range to play as a deep safety and the size to roll down into the box. Inconsistent instincts are an issue for Skinner in coverage as he struggled to find a true home in college. At 6’ 4” Skinner is high hips and stiff in his back pedal. Despite his long speed he doesn’t have the burst or instincts to live as a single high player. He struggles to change directions quickly and does not project to be a quality man coverage player. Skinner's size and length gives him the ability to disrupt TEs off the line but he struggles to contain quicker players in space.
JL Skinner is a unique player in terms of his physical profile. He has an old school build with exceptional linear athleticism. Despite his alignment versatility, his size and questionable lateral agility gives him scheme limitations that may reduce the amount of landing spots he has in the draft. Skinner projects best in a zone heavy scheme in a simplified role down around the line of scrimmage. His best fit is as a low hole/robber player similar to how Kam Chancellor used to play for the Legion of Boom Seahawks.
Grade: 5.90 - Third Round Grade (Has A Chance to Contribute)
Games Watched: Oklahoma State (2021), Colorado State (2021), BYU (2022), Air Force (2022)