The Chinese calendar says 2024 was the year of the dragon. Over in America, it was the year of the running back. Across both top rungs of the footballing ladder, the dying position has been resuscitated back into vogue. The evolution of the game towards a more passing style was rendering even the best RBs unable to express their talent. Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley in the pros were massive flag-bearers for this return to form. Down in college football, Cam Skattebo also epitomized this upturn for tailbacks. As he now ascends to the NFL himself, one of his ASU teammates is making sure Cam’s historic run with the Sun Devils lives on perpetually.
Conventional wisdom suggests it’s best to let bygones be bygones. But when the past is as awesome as Cam Skattebo’s collegiate career, exceptions shall be made. Cast your minds back to his final game for ASU, a microcosm of his entire stint. Arguably his best game and inarguably, his most grueling. The discourse around an imbalanced playoff field dissipated in real-time down in Atlanta that night. The consensus dictated that the mighty Texas Longhorns’ Peach Bowl date with the ASU Sun Devils was going to be a procession. Another blowout just as the playoffs spewed aplenty. A double OT classic later, this rationale was thwarted. Cam Skattebo’s transcendent performance was the reason why.
Skattebo, quite literally, did everything. He rushed, he caught, and he even threw a touchdown pass off play action. Alas, his superhuman efforts fell just short. Naturally, emotions spilled over. Cam Skattebo burst into tears right there in midfield. His teammates rushed for support. Skattebo was evidently sick during the game and was seen vomiting on the sidelines. Still, he refused to come out. Asking for liquids to replenish, as well as the pigskin, at every opportunity. The cruelty of sport is such that he, and by extension, the Sun Devils, didn’t get their fairytale end. But his great season, which even earned him Heisman ballot shouts, wasn’t in vain. ASU did win the Big 12, after all. Citing the blood, sweat, and tears Skattebo shed, as well as the hardware he brought, WR Jordyn Tyson is making a demand with the school.
Tyson saw everything Skattebo did offensively with front-row seats. So when the RB posted a montage/mixtape of his final year with ASU on IG, best believe Tyson was in the comments section, showing love. In fact, he thinks Cam Skattebo’s legacy needs to live on in a more tangible way than just memories. “F it, build the statue already,” wrote Jordyn Tyson. The first word of his plea needs no expansion, and neither does the sentiment. Skattebo’s reverence among his peers is such that his teammates think he’s worthy of a statue. Albeit hyperbolic and maybe even said in jest, Tyson’s words for Skattebo aren’t misplaced.
QB1 Sam Leavitt also dropped in, calling Skattebo “THE TRUTH.” Leavitt, who opted to return for another season with ASU, will sure miss his partner behind the line of scrimmage. Cam Skattebo put up over 1700 rush yards last season to go with 21 house calls. Averaging 5.8 yards/carry. Add to that 600 receiving yards and 3 receiving TDs. Akin to Saquon Barkley, Skattebo is a true catching threat out of the backfield. It’s not a surprise he’s beginning to creep up NFL draft boards and hive minds.
Cam Skattebo’s performance at the Combine will make one franchise more keen than they already were
The Combine entails more than just physical and skill-based prognosis. It’s an opportunity for franchises to weigh players’ intangibles as well. Suitors of Cam Skattebo spoke to him for the first time in an NFL setting. Weigh up his Xs and Os as well as his demeanor and poise. He was always going to do well in the interviews, given his track record of leadership and taking onus. That said, what boosted his chances of being a Day 1 pick come April was his performance in that physical prognosis. At least the stuff he participated in. Skattebo tested off the charts in the broad jump and vertical jump.
His vert of 39.5 inches was the 5th best of all players at the Combine. Amongst his position group of RBs, it was 2nd. His broad jump of 10 feet and 3 inches ranked 6th among RBs. Unlike the QB class, this year’s running back class is widely considered to be one of the best ones in years. For Cam Skattebo to put in this kind of showing means one of the teams that he interviewed with becomes an enticing option.
The 49ers pick 11th overall. Now, that sure is too high for an RB traditionally. Plus, they already have Christian McCaffrey. However, it’s not out of the realm of possibility they draft Cam Skattebo. Running backs don’t usually have long shelf lives. At least compared to the other positions.McCaffrey, already very injury-prone, has a lot of tread on those tires. It could be a shrewd move by the 49ers to target Skattebo for a smooth passing of the baton. We’ve seen how a top-end RB can complement Brock Purdy. Kyle Shanahan and San Fran are toward the tail end of a championship window. Skattebo can elongate the spine of their offense a little bit. Father Time is catching up to CMC rather quickly. Is this the succession plan, given they interviewed Skattebo?
Even if not in the first round, Skattebo sure is a decent option on Days 2 and 3. The obvious racial comparison between him and McCaffrey aside, Cam helps them continue that pass-catching threat of CMC. Watch that aforementioned mixtape of Skattebo’s on IG. Then watch his highlight reel from the Peach Bowl. The answers become a lot more conspicuous. Statue or not, Cam Skattebo shall be a legend for the Sun Devils. Remains to be seen which NFL franchise he suits up for to continue his story.
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