According to the Chinese, 2024 was the Year of the Dragon. Over in America, though, it was the year of the running back. Across the top two rungs of the football ladder, the fading position has been resuscitated back into vogue. The game’s transformation away from the grass and towards the air—a passing style—was putting a lid on even the best RBs. Stopping their talent from bubbling over. However, things changed last season. In the NFL, Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry became flag-bearers for this return to form for RBs. A step down in college football, Cam Skattebo also epitomized this upturn. Ashton Jeanty transcended over to the casual fan, and rightly so. But don’t sleep on Skattebo, as he has now moved to the NFL. One franchise certainly isn’t.
Now, the NFL Draft isn’t necessarily a meritocracy. It is certainly not a rundown of the best players in ascending order. The big boards that you’d see float this time of year ranking the prospects regardless of position don’t match with Roger Goodell’s board that matters in April. Quarterbacks get bumped up, for instance, and understandably. That’s the centerpiece of your franchise, the crown jewel. Even if, say, a running back is perceived to be better than the entire field, their name may not get called in accordance with their talent. This is something Cam Skattebo is going to deal with. RBs aren’t usually early-round picks, given their relatively shorter shelf lives and the aforementioned evolution towards a passing game, rendering them a little bit less important. That said, a franchise close to his Arizona State campus has expended some valuable resources to confirm their interest in him.
NFL franchises get 30 player interviews in their building after the Combine concludes. This is called a “Top-30 visit.” Scouts and front offices have to be very meticulous and strategic about which players they’ll use these limited slots on. It’s certainly got to be players you see yourself drafting and want a closer look. Mind you, players from schools within a 50-mile radius do not count among these 30 slots. Therefore, franchises can assess any number of local prospects. So when the Arizona Cardinals spend a Top-30 interview on ASU’s Cam Skattebo, you know they’re serious about him. This was reported by NFL Network’s reporter/insider Mark Garafolo. Who also explained what this signals for the Cardinals’ plans for Skattebo.
Guesting on the “PHNX Sports” YouTube channel, Garafolo was asked if Cam Skattebo’s visit was indeed a Top-30 visit and not merely a local visit. “I clarified that. It was a top-30 visit. I believe it already happened, too,” said Garafolo. “The local visits usually happen when you have a [dedicated] Local Day… They didn’t want him to be part of that. It was more of a, ‘Hey, we really feel good about this guy. We’ll have a top 30 visit.’ Which is a much different, more in-depth visit that you have with a guy. So that was a Top-30 visit for Cam Skattebo.” QB1 Kyler Murray sure could do with a complimentary piece to alleviate some pressure off his pass game. Garafolo proceeded to point out why Skattebo got more such visits on his itinerary.
“There’s gonna be a lot of interest in Skattebo because he really performed well at the Combine. You know what the tape says. So a lot of teams want to go in-depth with Cam,” he remarked. Skattebo really did have a day to himself down in Indy at the Combine. Something that has piqued the interest of America’s team. Who could do with a fresh, potent pair of legs in the backfield. Jerry Jones’ Dallas Cowboys are reportedly in the mix for Cam Skattebo.
Cam Skattebo piques the interest of Jerry Jones
The Combine entails more than just physical and skill-based prognosis. It presented 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. Before these imminent visits, he’s been lined up as per Mark Garafolo. Teams didn’t just weigh up his Xs and Os but also his demeanor and intellect. Cam was always going to do well in the interviews, given his track record of leadership and taking onus with ASU. That said, what boosted his chances of being a high draft pick was his performance in that physical prognosis. At least the stuff he participated in. Which appears to have gotten the attention of Cowboys’ owner-GM Jerry Jones.
Cam 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. So for Cam Skattebo to put in this kind of showing alters the perception around his stock. The lack of vim in the Cowboys’ backfield, especially in the first half of last season, was blatant. Rico Dowdle picked things up later on. But he’s left now. Jerry has signed Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders in free agency to address the issue. But neither has shown they can be the No. 1 back on a contender.
Skattebo offers a secondary dimension, too, which has become a requisite need in the modern NFL. He’s a good pass catcher outside the backfield. Something he showed in the Peach Bowl last season. Not as great, but he’s akin to a Christian McCaffrey with how he offers a dual threat. Jerry isn’t one to keep his cards close to the chest, but he may want to with this one. He was seemingly in for Ashton Jeanty initially. But Jeanty’s now expected to be off the board by the time the Cowboys pick #12 in round 1. It remains to be seen if they, like the Cardinals, also extend an invitation to Cam Skattebo. With the Big 12 Pro Day mere hours away, a lot more shall become conspicuous regarding this process.
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