Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State
Size:
Height: 5094
Weight: 219
Arm: 29 ⅞”
Hand: 9 ⅜”
Accomplishments:
Peach Bowl Offensive MVP (2025)
“Cam Skattebo is a downhill, punishing runner who will set the tone of physicality with his physically dominant running style for an NFL offense.”
Strengths:
Ability to force broken tackles
Run power
Toughness/physicality
Vision/lateral agility
Concerns:
Top-end speed
Explosiveness to hit the home run
Elusiveness in the open field
Injury concerns
Film Analysis:
In the 2024 season, Cam Skattebo went from an unknown running back prospect on what was projected to be one of the worst teams in college football to a Big 12 champion, a household name, and a Peach Bowl MVP. Skattebo earned the attention of fans with his play style, as he is pound-for-pound one of the toughest football players in college football. Skattebo runs the football with violence and has a never-say-die mentality, creating violent collisions with defenders by running through them and refusing to go down on first contact. Skattebo finished the 2024 season with more than 1,700 rushing yards, 600 yards receiving, and more than 20 touchdowns in total. It is obvious that Skattebo is an intense runner whose style elevates his teammates to give their all on every single down.
As a runner, Skattebo has a wide base that provides a good foundation for contact balance and the ability to bounce off defenders trying to tackle him. Skattebo’s violent run nature is evident in how he can utilize stiff arms and bring contact to defenders by lowering his shoulder—he prefers to initiate the contact. Skattebo plays with good pad level which translates to him being a good option for short-yardage opportunities, but he has a way of creating his own big plays by continuing to fall forward to pick up significant yardage.
Outside of Skattebo's physical run nature, he also has good vision and instincts as a runner. From the handoff, Skattebo does a good job of scanning the line of scrimmage for openings and creases. Skattebo has the athleticism to make jump cuts and cut back against the flow of the play to find an opening backside. Into the second level of the defense, Skattebo has a surprising burst that helps accelerate to his top speed quickly and allows him to convert plays from five-yard rushes to 20-plus-yard gains. Into the third level, Skattebo doesn't have the speed to sustain separation from defenders with top-end speed but upon being brought to the ground, Skattebo does a good job of throwing stiff arms and making it difficult for defenders to tackle him—in the process picking up extra yardage past their initial contact.
Another plus asset is his impact on the passing game. Although Skattebo profiles as a physical downhill thumper, he surprisingly appears to be a natural hands catcher. Skattebo can catch the football out of the backfield, running all of the traditional routes from the running back. Skattebo also does a good job of tracking the football on wheel routes in one-on-one situations.
The area of concern for Skattebo as an NFL draft prospect would be what appears to be a lack of top-end speed. This lack of speed shows in the open field. Skattebo has a good initial burst and acceleration but cannot keep separation and is usually caught by defenders, which limits some plays that have home run/explosive opportunities. There is also a limitation to Skattebo’s lateral agility. There appears to be some lower-body tightness which limits his overall elusiveness in the open field.
Overall, Skattebo is a physical runner who has the upside to serve as an RB1 for an NFL franchise.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter
Written By: Keith Sanchez
Exposures: Texas (2025), Iowa State (2024), BYU (2024), Utah (2024)
