Louisville bolsters offense with duo Skinner and Chaney

Louisville continues to stockpile talent for the 2024 season.

The Louisville football team, under head coach Jeff Brohm, has been active in the transfer portal, strengthening its roster with two notable additions: tight end Jaleel Skinner and running back Donald Chaney. Both joined the Cardinals from Miami.

Skinner, a former four-star prospect from Greer, S.C., brings a strong pedigree to Louisville. After spending his senior high school season at IMG Academy in Florida, he was ranked as the No. 100 player in the country and the No. 4 tight end by 247Sports.

At Miami, Skinner had a promising freshman year with nine receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown but saw limited action in 2023, leading him to redshirt and eventually transfer. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Skinner, who has three years of eligibility remaining, chose Louisville over other top programs, making him the 24th transfer portal commitment for the Cardinals.

Donald Chaney, a Miami native and former four-star prospect, finished his four-year stint at Miami with 1,014 all-purpose yards. Despite battling injuries, including an ACL tear, Chaney had his most successful season in 2023, rushing for 478 yards on 94 carries and scoring two touchdowns. A two-time Dade County Player of the Year, Chaney left Belen Jesuit as the school’s all-time leading rusher. With one season of eligibility left, Chaney’s experience and resilience are expected to bolster Louisville’s backfield.

The addition of these two players from Miami is part of a broader strategy by Louisville to tap into the transfer portal. Along with Skinner and Chaney, the Cardinals have secured commitments from Alabama wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks and UCF cornerback Corey Thornton, both from South Florida. This influx of talent from the transfer portal, particularly from such high-profile programs, underscores Louisville’s commitment to elevating its football program and competing at a higher level in the upcoming seasons.