The Arizona State Sun Devils were one of the biggest surprises this past season. Nobody expected them to reach the Big 12 Championship—let alone earn a first-round bye in the playoffs. But Kenny Dillingham had a duo that brought the fire: Sam Leavitt and Cam Skattebo. These two were each other’s savior, guiding the Sun Devils through some of their best moments in recent memory. But the 2025 season? It’s going to look different. Leavitt is coming back for one final run, but for Skattebo—it’s goodbye. And before he hit the exit doors, he had everyone reaching for tissues to wipe their tears. Dillingham made sure Skattebo left with his head held high, ready for the next chapter.
“ASU has changed my life forever.” Those were running back Skattebo’s exact words after his epic Peach Bowl performance. And looking at the numbers, it’s clear why Arizona State is so protective of him. One of his best showings came on the grandest stage—against Texas in the College Football Playoff finale. The Sun Devils trailed by 16 in the fourth quarter, but Skattebo wasn’t ready to go home quietly. He rumbled for 143 yards and two touchdowns, dragging ASU back into the fight. Even though Steve Sarkisian’s squad ultimately pulled off a 39–31 double-overtime win, and even though Skattebo was literally throwing up on the sidelines with his teammates helping him out, he still gave fans something to get hyped about. Main character energy, no doubt. Nothing could stop him from giving absolutely everything for his Sun Devils fam. He even said, “No matter what, these guys will be in my life forever.”
So it wasn’t surprising when ASU OC and OBs coach Marcus Arroyo sounded the alarm about life without him. “Skatt is special. You’re gonna miss some of those plays, obviously.” No lies detected. At Arizona State’s Pro Day, Skattebo showed off his wheels, clocking a 4.65 in the 40-yard dash. He’s NFL-bound now, but the impact he made on the program won’t fade anytime soon. Dillingham got emotional talking about it……
“He broke the team down today because it was the last time he’ll probably be here before he is a professional athlete.” Still, the head coach wants his guy locked in on the next goal. And rightfully so. Skattebo’s resume is rock solid. In his senior year, he posted the second-most rushing yards in the nation with 283 carries for 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns. He’s got the tools. Now he just needs to keep that fire burning. Dillingham made sure he had some fuel.
“There’s a lot of people that want to be you. A lot of people want to be in your shoes, whether you are drafted in the second round, fifth round, ninth round. They just don’t even have that right. It doesn’t matter. Like the opportunity to wear an NFL team’s jersey and to earn a job.” And just like that, the NFL buzz has already kicked in—with whispers placing Skattebo with a $5.2 billion NFL giant.
Where does Cam Skattebo fit the best in the NFL?
Well, college football gives players space to bounce back from setbacks. But the NFL? It’s ruthless. One wrong step can change everything. Just ask Nick Chubb. The Cleveland Browns’ star back suffered a brutal injury in Week 2 of the 2023 season, and everything shifted. From 1,525 yards in 2022, to just 170 in 2023, and 332 in 2024. It’s been a rough road. And now, Kevin Stefanski’s offense is looking for a reliable workhorse to fill the gap.
Enter PFF’s Mason Cameron, who might have found the answer. In his latest analysis, Cameron named the best Day 2 fit for each NFL team—and for the Browns, it was none other than Skattebo. “Cleveland has struggled to find a workhorse back to lean on since Nick Chubb’s devastating knee injury. Skattebo would undoubtedly fill the void.” So, why does Skattebo make sense for the Browns?
Versatility. Toughness. Dual-threat grit. That’s what makes him special. “His physicality jumps off the tape as both a runner and a blocker, possessing a mentality and the after-contact consistency that the Browns’ front office can build around while they figure out the quarterback situation.” And if you want to talk stats? Let’s line them up.
Chubb, even during his prime, averaged 5.1 yards per carry. But post-injury, in 2024? Just 3.3. It’s tough to see. Now compare that to Skattebo—who averaged 5.8 yards per carry on 293 attempts. Sure, college isn’t the pros, but it’s a promising indicator. He brings consistency and punishment after contact—traits that fit right into the Browns’ hard-nosed identity. So… could Skattebo be the next Chubb? Because if Cam Skattebo could do all that in college—just imagine what he might cook up on Sundays.
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