What is Cam Skattebo’s potential as a 2025 NFL Draft prospect?
Texas battled past Arizona State for a dramatic 39-31 overtime win in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, but Sun Devils star running back Cam Skattebo did all he could to help his team erase a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit and push the Longhorns to the brink.
Skattebo at one point in the game was “vomiting profusely” on the sideline, according to an ESPN report. Despite that, he posted another remarkable stat line: 30 carries for 143 yards and two touchdowns, eight receptions for 99 yards and a 42-yard passing touchdown off a trick play. Skattebo also scored the second of Arizona State’s two late 2-point conversions to tie the score at 24 and force OT.
Next up for Skattebo after a senior season that saw him produce more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage? The NFL Draft process, as he’ll try to sell himself as a top prospect to teams at the next level.
What does his NFL scouting report look like?
Over the summer, Skattebo was considered a potential free-agent prospect by NFL scouts, mostly because evaluators doubted he was the level of athlete required for the next level.
But Skattebo has been swaying doubters his entire life, going from a high school recruit with zero FBS offers to a top-five Heisman finisher this season. Time will tell whether he sneaks into the top 100 or is more of a mid-round pick in April, but Skattebo has flipped the narrative regardless and will get his NFL opportunity.
With his low pad level, contact balance and finishing toughness, Skattebo is a chore to tackle, and his determination can wear down defenses. His run style won’t be a fit for every scheme or role, but he can be a valuable part of an NFL backfield committee, especially given his versatility as a pass catcher. — Dane Brugler
He’s such an interesting athlete, and I really can’t wait to see how he tests because it could be a unique experience. Skattebo’s best physical trait is the power he generates from all the twitch and explosion built into his lower half. He’s going to have pretty wild jump numbers but possibly a rather pedestrian 40 time. He almost reminds me of a smaller LeGarrette Blount — Blount was much bigger (240 pounds to Skattebo’s 215), but the two backs share the combination of burst and below-average speed.
The best part about his game, though, is the stuff everyone marvels at on TV. He never stops playing. Even when Texas managed to stuff him on fourth down near the goal line, it took seven tacklers to bring him down. And by not giving up on the play, he forced the Longhorns to start near their own goal line, subsequently leading to a safety.
He can’t control his size, speed or the fact his role is going to be limited wherever he winds up. He can control the consistency of his hands, which will be important, and his effort, which is off the charts. — Nick Baumgardner
The “grit” equation is weighted differently in different corners of the NFL, though it’s fair to say everyone in the league values football character. But when they find someone like Skattebo, who was forced to bet on himself out of high school because no one thought he could play and who was more or less fine if he had to fistfight his way onto a college football roster, they know that’s a football player.
Guys in Skattebo’s position have to be willing to do anything and everything asked of them to stay on a team. He’s not fast enough to be a featured back in the NFL and, frankly, he’s not big enough to play the way he does and handle a huge workload at the next level. However, effort and toughness translate to special teams and being dependable when his number’s called. — Baumgardner
(Photo: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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Arizona State Sun Devils, College Football, NFL
