Cam Skattebo made sure the world knew his name this season. From being a transfer out of Sacramento State, all the way to becoming a Heisman Trophy finalist, Skattebo proved that hard work and dedication can take you to levels you never thought possible. However, the work isn’t over yet, with the NFL right ahead of him.
Height: 5 ft – 11 in
Weight: 215 lb
Age: 23
Position: Running Back
College: Arizona State
College Career Summary:
Cam Skattebo’s freshman season didn’t exactly go according to plan. As a member of the Sacramento State Hornets, he didn’t get to play a single game that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The following year, he was finally able to get himself onto the college football field, appearing in 11 games and rushing for over 500 yards. The following season, still with the Hornets, he made sure to double his numbers. He appeared in 13 games, rushed for just under 1,400 yards, and hauled in 371 receiving yards on top of that. This was when he decided to hit the transfer portal and head over to the Arizona State Devils. In 2023, he had a modest season, rushing 164 times for 783 yards and a couple hundred yards through the air. But it wasn’t his best campaign. That must have fueled him more than ever because, in 2024, he was a Heisman finalist. He rushed for 1,711 yards and scored over 20 touchdowns while adding 600 receiving yards. With this season under his belt, he can now walk into the NFL with those numbers, a selection to the First-Team All-American squad, First-Team All-Big 12 squad, First-Team All-Big Sky squad, and as the winner of the Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year.
2024 Season
Games Played: 13
Yards: 1,711 rushing, 605 receiving
Touchdowns: 21 rushing, three receiving
Career Stats:
- 49 games played
- 4,386 rushing yards
- 51 total touchdowns
- 709 rush attempts
- 112 receptions
Passing/Rushing/Receiving/Defensive Metrics:
- 2 yards per carry throughout his career
- 4 yards per reception throughout his career
- 1,386 career receiving yards
Strengths:
- Has natural leverage and consistently falls forward through contact
- Infectious energy and competitiveness
- Patient runner who allows blocks to be set up properly
- Surprisingly skilled as a pass-catcher
- Elite contact balance coupled with surprising lateral quickness
- Consistently dependable in short-yardage situations
Weaknesses:
- Ball security was a problem, fumbling 10 times over a three-season span
- Pass protection isn’t where it needs to be
- Long speed is decent, but not exactly where you want it to be
- Has gotten caught dancing in the backfield rather than hitting holes
High Pressure Situations/Clutch Gene:
Cam Skattebo showed that he has a clutch gene inside of him this season with the Arizona State Sun Devils. Going up against ISU in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship, his team was able to win 45-19 thanks to his massive performance. He had 16 rushes for 170 yards and two touchdowns, adding on two receptions for 38 yards and another score on top of that. Then, in the College football playoffs against Texas, he showed up again. This time, he had 30 carries for 143 yards and two touchdowns, bringing in eight receptions for 99 more yards through the air. Unfortunately, Texas won that matchup in double overtime, but it wouldn’t have even been closer without the effort that Skattebo brought to the field. If those two massive games were any indication, it is that Skattebo doesn’t shy away from big moments and instead works even harder to make his name known to change the outcome of the game.
NFL Projection And Fantasy Relevance:
Skattebo is usually projected to be drafted in the third round, though with his work ethic, he can easily be a steal for any team that takes the chance on him. There’s a chance that he slips a little lower in the draft due to how many talented running backs there are in this class but given what we saw in the college football playoffs this season, it feels like his stock has risen enough to not slip too far. As for his fantasy relevance, this is a guy that I’d love to stash in any type of dynasty platform. Skattebo, throughout college and most recently in these playoffs, has proven to us that he has a relentless motor and energy to him. This is something that doesn’t just get taught, it varies from person to person. Some people have that, and others don’t. With Skattebo, it’s clear that he has that, and many NFL teams are going to take notice of that. Even if he doesn’t see the field much as a rookie, wherever he winds up getting drafted, it’s hard to envision him not working on the football field at some point. And, if he does get the shot to prove what he’s worth, I find it hard to believe that he’ll let that opportunity slip through his fingertips.
I’m a big fan of Skattebo, and I think that he could be one of the steals of the draft given his current projections. He isn’t a perfect running back, and he does have flaws which were mentioned earlier, though he’s going to give you everything he has, no matter what. Plus, his pass-catching is somewhat underrated, because he did quite well in that department throughout his time in college, even if he wasn’t routinely bringing in receptions. Now, he definitely has to work on his pass protection, because most NFL teams are looking for running backs that can stand back and help their quarterback if need be. Based on what we’ve seen, his pass protection is inconsistent, to say the least, but thankfully this is an area that can be worked on with NFL trainers and coaches. All in all, the Arizona State running back should be a fine addition to any NFL team, and I find it hard to believe we won’t see him on the football field throughout this upcoming NFL season.