Clemson commit gives up soccer for football

As a junior, Skalski had 78 tackles and three sacks in 7 games

Tony Crumpton · Assoc. Editor · Friday, September 11 2015

Jamie Skalski - Middle Linebacker
TigerNet: (3.03)

Height: 6-1 Weight: 230 Hometown: Newnan, GA (Northgate HS) Class: 2016

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2016 Clemson linebacker commit Jamie Skalski from Newnan, Georgia told the AJC that he had a possible soccer career in his future but chose to give it up for football.

“People don’t really expect me to be good at soccer, but I was a pretty good soccer player,” Skalski told the AJC. “People don’t really see a 6-foot, 240 pound guy being good and with quick feet to be juggling and kicking the ball around…I pride myself on that.”

Skalski had a busy sports schedule as he would travel considerably for his soccer competitions.

“I would play football games Friday night and then that morning I’d drive up to like South Carolina or down to Florida and play games all weekend,” Skalski said.

Finally, he decided that his future was in football and needed to take care of his body.

“I tried playing again… I finally just committed to just football to watch out for my body and keep myself healthy,” he said.

As a junior, he had 78 tackles and three sacks despite limited to 7 games with a thumb injury and was named to the All-County team for his efforts.

He had offers from Clemson, Louisville, Marshall, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, UCF and Wake Forest.