Vanier Cup winning quarterback Alex Skinner has committed to play for the University of Guelph Gryphons, according to sources.

After taking over the starting quarterback job for the Rouge et Or midway through the 2013 season, Skinner helped Laval lift the Canadian Interuniversity Sport national championship trophy to end that campaign. Just two days later he was charged for alleged assault in a bar fight that has been said to have occurred in the summer earlier that year. Skinner has pled not guilty as he continues to go through the legal process.

The Ottawa native was suspended by Laval for three games to start the 2014 season and then left the program. That move allowed Skinner to be free and choose where he wanted to continue his university football career. University of British Columbia head coach Blake Nill had interest in Skinner – as did many other schools – before the Thunderbirds got a commitment from Penn State transfer Michael O’Connor.

Back in 2013, Skinner completed 72 of his 105 attempts in 2013 for 1,013 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions. As a CIS starter he has a perfect 8-0 record. Skinner has an impressive arm as his YouTube trick-shot video shows.

Skinner was one of the top quarterback recruits in the country coming out of St. Peter High School in Ottawa and after playing a season at Kimball Union Academy – a prep school – in New Hampshire.

The move to bring Skinner in gives Guelph important quarterback depth with talented and hard-working second-year signal caller James Roberts the only other pivot on Guelph’s roster with university playing experience.