From the FCS to the New York Football Giants. Cam Skattebo’s tryst with proving his mettle and quality is complete. Going from Sacramento State’s backfield to one in the NFL is commendable just on face value. But contextualizing his traversal between points A and B adds tons of value. Skattebo recognizes this, and is not making his ascension from the collegiate level to the pros in silence. He’s letting you know exactly what he’s about.
The Chinese calendar says ‘24 was the Year of the Dragon. But over in America, it was the year of the running back. The likes of Saquon Barkley, ironically a former Giant, and Derrick Henry resuscitated the dying position back into vogue. Down in College Football, something similar transpired. Ashton Jeanty gained the lion’s share of the plaudits and fanfare, rightfully so, too. But don’t sleep on Cam Skattebo’s 2024 season. His magnum opus which afforded him not only an opportunity in the NFL. But will also go down in the annals of the sport. Akin to Jeanty, Skattebo also made the exclusive shortlist for the Heisman Trophy. Which epitomizes how great a season he had down in Tempe with Arizona State. A Cinderella story not exactly laced with fairy dust. But one where she turns into a battering ram running past, or through, legions of defenders.
Cam Skattebo’s, and by extension the ASU offense’s, modus operandi was fairly straightforward. Run the threads off the football. In an era where the game has evolved more towards passing-style offenses, Kenny Dillingham’s Sun Devils embraced tradition. Doing this the old-school way. It sure helps when you’ve got Skattebo, though. Who isn’t the quickest tailback ever. Nor is he the most agile, someone who can juke you for extra yardage. Cam Skattebo’s primary trait is his physicality and brute strength. Something he managed to permeate through to the rest of his ASU team as well en route to the Big 12 championship and CFP. Skattebo doesn’t shy away from being viewed this way. He revels in it. So when he reminisces over his time in college, it serves as a warning to the NFL- stay prepared for his brand of football.
Skattebo guested on the PHNX Sports YouTube channel to take a proverbial trip down memory lane. Speaking about his style of play, he made it a point to drive home its physical nature. “I did hit [defenders] really hard, you know. Definitely didn’t just let up and just defend myself. I laid into it,” remarked Cam Skattebo. You’ve gotta be wired a certain way to play football and welcome the sheer pain you’ve got to endure on the gridiron. This is somebody who, as clichéd as it sounds, was born to do it. “That’s just kind of the game I play. Physical. If you want to meet me at the goal line, then go ahead. We’ll see who wins that 1v1. I don’t believe anybody will ever stop me [in that scenario]. If you don’t have full speed momentum, you might not have no chance,” he continued.
Cam Skattebo even delved into his psyche against Texas in the Peach Bowl. Irrefutably the best and yet most gruesome game of his career so far. A game in which he almost single-handedly willed ASU to a legendary comeback win. But alas, a 4th and 13 conversion down the stretch shifted momentum. Skattebo quite literally left everything on that field. He was so involved that he even threw up at one point. But replenished on the sidelines and was back in the thick of it. That game was a microcosm of who he is as a player and, more importantly, a competitor. “Down 17 points, I had to set some momentum, you know. The guys have to see that physicality we have to bring to the football team to be able to keep pushing. We’re not the most athletic team in the country, so we have to be the most physical,” he said about that playoff game. His last ever in College Football. That last bit is particularly noteworthy.
Cam Skattebo’s 40-yard dash corroborates his athleticism, or lack thereof
Before being drafted by the NY Giants, Cam Skattebo had to prove his worth in an NFL setting. The Combine down in Indy remains a litmus test as franchises prognosticate your tangibles. For a player who leans so heavily into his mental intangibles, you’d think Cam Skattebo wouldn’t test too well in the drills. However, he did. At least the stuff he participated in. Skattebo’s vertical jump of 39.5 inches ranked 5th. Not amongst running backs, mind you. Against the entire field! Against his contemporaries, it ranked 2nd. He also attempted the broad jump and measured 10 feet 3 inches. 6th among RBs. But there was one issue. He didn’t run the 40-yard dash. Something that has become common practice among prospects in recent years.
Cam Skattebo would then run the 40 at ASU’s Pro Day. Unfortunately, it became apparent why he chose to forego it at the Combine. Skattebo recorded a 4.65, which is quite dismal relative to other tailbacks. As partisan and shallow as it seems, the 40-yard dash remains the key measurable that franchises look at to assess a player. It is said to be baked into why Skattebo fell to the 4th round. So his comments about his team “not being the most athletic” and counteracting it with physicality almost sound like an assessment of his individual game. But hey, at least he’s self-aware. Although he’s not the best raw athlete, Cam Skattebo’s other skills more than make up for it. Including his ability to be a factor in the passing game downfield.
Skattebo is going from being the focal point of an offense to an entirely different proposition with the Giants. An offense in a state of flux with a new quarterback partnering Skattebo in the backfield. It’ll be fascinating to see how he makes this transition. And whether his physical game actually stands out among bigger, stronger professional athletes. If his own confidence is to go by, he is going to match up to the challenge. Meanwhile, Kenny Dillingham and ASU continue to try and fill the void he has left behind in Tempe.
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