Why Jeremiah Skipworth Jr. will get a shot at collegiate football
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — For the past four years, Jeremiah Skipworth Jr. was a crucial part of the football program at the Baylor School in Chattanooga on Friday nights.
Skipworth Jr. has always been an offensive guy, typically playing running back or wide receiver until this year. Going into his senior season, he switched to defensive back due to team needs.
鈥淚鈥檝e worked at it, but I鈥檝e never played it on the field,鈥� Skipworth Jr. said about his position change. 鈥淭he past four years have been fun. I鈥檝e gotten the chance to play multiple positions and not many high school players do that. That was a great opportunity for me.鈥�
Not only has Skipworth Jr. played multiple positions, but multiple sports as well throughout his time at Baylor. He played baseball until last season and switched to track to help him prepare more for his football future.
鈥淚t helps me work on my speed and get faster on the field,鈥� Skipworth Jr. said. 鈥淏aseball wasn鈥檛 really doing that for me, so I switched to something that would benefit me in the long run.鈥�
He has turned this into one of his biggest strengths in his game. Despite only being 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, Skipworth Jr.鈥檚 4.47 40-yard dash time gives him the upper edge.
鈥淚t allows me to make bigger guys miss or guard bigger wide receivers that aren鈥檛 as quick or fast as me,鈥� Skipworth Jr. said. 鈥淚 just feel like that鈥檚 a big advantage for me when I鈥檓 on the field.鈥�
Game changing speed is the biggest asset for guys like Odell Beckham Jr. and Tyrann Mathieu, two guys that Skipworth Jr. watches because they share similar body types.
鈥淗e鈥檚 not that tall,鈥� Skipworth Jr. said of Mathieu. 鈥淎t the same time, he knows what he鈥檚 doing on the field to make big plays as a smaller player.鈥�
Both Beckham and Mathieu bring a hardnose type of work ethic to a football team. Skipworth Jr. encompasses this as well.
鈥淢y coaches tell me all the time, 鈥業 wish the players that slacked a little bit worked like you,鈥欌�� Skipworth Jr. said. 鈥淚 always want to be the best at what I鈥檓 doing to help me become a better player. I鈥檓 always doing the little things off the field to get myself better. Even in the classroom, if I don鈥檛 really know something, I make sure I understand it.鈥�
This is why Skipworth Jr.鈥檚 goal of learning more of the intricacies of the game seems very achievable.
鈥淚 feel like that鈥檒l just help me improve my game all-around if I鈥檓 able to do that at the next level,鈥� Skipworth Jr. said. 鈥淛ust having the knowledge of being like, 鈥極kay, they鈥檙e gonna do this, so I can make this type of play on the ball.鈥欌��
He currently holds a few offers from schools such as Culver-Stockton and Birmingham-Southern. Wherever Skipworth Jr. winds up, he will be ready, no matter the task.
鈥淚f they see me as a defensive back, I wouldn鈥檛 mind playing there,鈥� Skipworth Jr. said. 鈥淚f they see me as a running back or wide receiver, I鈥檒l play there too. I don鈥檛 mind what position I play, as long as I get the opportunity to show my talent.鈥�
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