When Lee Skinner’s future teammates joined the Bulls on national signing day in 2010, the now senior linebacker had no idea he’d be donning blue and white come the start of his college career.
He wasn’t even sure his cleats would ever hit a D-I field.
He was a high school senior without a single football scholarship offer before a chance meeting with Bulls head coach Jeff Quinn at a wrestling tournament.
Once Quinn discovered him, Skinner didn’t have a spot on team until a last-minute scholarship opened up just months before what would be his first season.
Skinner didn’t become a starter until his mentor, an incumbent starter, left the Bulls after repeated concussions.
He feels lucky to be on the team – much of his journey has been coincidental. It’s almost kismet.
The senior linebacker has started every single game for the Bulls for the past three seasons, and he looks to do the same again this year as the anchor of the Buffalo defense.
“There was a time I thought I might not play football in college,” Skinner said. “But that’s just kind of how life goes. Sometimes you’re fortunate and sometimes you’re not.”
***
Skinner attended football camps throughout his junior and season seasons of high school believing he had done well, only to not hear back from any coaches, according to his mother, Mary.
He considered staying home in Dayton, Ohio and attending nearby Wright State. He would have attended for free – not because of football, but because his father is a physics professor for the university.
Skinner did have one coach who was interested in him: Quinn. But it was back when Quinn was offensive coordinator at Cincinnati. The two met on several occasions when Skinner was in high school and Quinn told him could walk-on for the Bearcats.
After former Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly left for Norte Dame, Quinn was unsure where he would be coaching for the 2010 season. He and Skinner lost touch.
When Quinn was hired as head coach of Buffalo in December 2009, Mary told her son he should call Quinn about possibly going to UB. Skinner hesitated. He was nervous to reach out.
When Skinner did finally call Quinn, the coach didn’t answer. Quinn’s voicemail was so full the high school senior couldn’t even leave a message.
He thought it was a sign.
“I figured it’s not meant to be,” Skinner said.
In February of 2010 – shortly after national signing day – Skinner was competing in a statewide wrestling tournament in Dayton, Ohio. Quinn’s son, who is the same age as Skinner, was also in the tournament.
Skinner, who stands at 6-foot-2, was tough, tenacious and competitive. He was exactly what Quinn was looking for.
“Wrestling’s a tough sport; it’s tough minded and that’s what we want,” Quinn said. “It’s a physical, competitive sport, as football is. You can find out a lot about a kid when you watch him in another sport. Does he have the true passion and competitive fire that you’re looking for? Does he have heart?”
Quinn saw that fire in Skinner. A few days after the tournament, he asked Skinner to consider becoming a Bull.
Skinner still had his mind on a scholarship. Quinn’s offer couldn’t come with one. And even though the future Bull was excited about joining the team, he’d have to wait until the coming fall season ended.
Skinner’s contact with Quinn came after the Bulls had already given out all that season’s scholarships so his college football career would have to start later than he wanted. Skinner had to grayshirt, meaning he wouldn’t be able to join the team until that winter. He was told he’d most likely play offensive or defensive line.
After at least five months of thinking his entry into UB Stadium would be delayed, Skinner got a call.
A linebacker spot was open and Quinn wanted Skinner. Skinner – who already naturally has a wide smile – was ecstatic. And relieved. He’d be returning to his football roots. He’d been a middle linebacker his whole high school career. He’d play his natural position on the field.
And he’d get his scholarship. He’d have to redshirt, but he’d be on the team.
“That was really a dream come true,” Skinner said. “It would have been a dream to play [any position] at the college level so whatever it was I was going to play it.”
***
After redshirting his true freshman season in 2010, Skinner was still not going see the field as a starter. He would be a backup for his friend and mentor, former Bulls linebacker John Syty.
Syty was impressed with Skinner’s work ethic and willingness to listen. Syty took it upon himself to mentor Skinner, teaching him the playbook and giving him his own handwritten notes from team meetings.
“He was kind of just my wingman through it all,” Syty said.
In the summer heading into the 2011 season, Syty would often tell Skinner, the then backup linebacker, he was going get playing time.
“I had never really taken him seriously because we liked to joke around,” said Skinner.
Skinner would get his chance, however, after Syty left the game due to “numerous concussions” sustained throughout his career.
Syty felt confident Skinner could take his place and told his friend not to be nervous.
“I remember telling him that there wasn’t another guy on that team that I wanted to fill that void with because he had put in the work,” Skinner said.
The reason for Syty’s departure did not scare Skinner away from playing the game, despite the position’s potential for collisions.
“I think there’s a lot of things that can happen in football,” Skinner said. “If you see a guy with a knee injury you don’t automatically think you’re going to have a knee injury. It’s really unfortunate what happened to Syty and I know if he could play he would have.”
Although he missed playing with Syty, Skinner made the most of his opportunities. He finished second on the team with 89, and he was named to the Phil Steele’s National All-Freshman second team.
***
For the last three seasons, Skinner has taken his starting position alongside Khalil Mack. But now, Skinner will have to be a leader on the defense.
"It’s going to be different [not playing with Mack],” laughed Skinner. “It’s definitely going to be different.”
You can consistently find Skinner’s name next to Mack in the team’s defensive statistics from the past few seasons. The 22-year-old describes himself as a “hustle” player, and he seems to be in on every single tackle.
Now in his fourth year as a starter, Skinner believes it’s his to chance to be a leader to the younger players on the team. He wants to mentor the underclassmen, just like Syty and Mack once mentored him.
“It’s my time to pay it forward,” Skinner said. “I’ve received so much from those people it’s my time to step up and help guys out when they’re feeling down.”
Skinner’s mother said her son likes to hangout with everyone and “not just the jocks.” His family and teammates describe him as a humble and friendly.
On the field is a different story.
“Some guys have the unique ability to be the nicest guy in the world off the field, where you can call them anytime of the night and they’re going to be there for you,” Syty said. “Then they step on that field and they’re able to flip the switch.”
It’s not much of a wonder how Skinner keeps that switch on. Whenever he walks onto that field, he’s still motivated by all times it seemed like he would be kept off it.
email: sports@ubspectrum.com
