Arizona State’s Cameron Skattebo puts on show vs USC
The college football off-season was headlined by the transfer portal. At one point, over 1,000 players had announced their intent to transfer. With so many big-name players changing uniforms, some incredibly impactful transfers went under the radar; and one of them found a new home in Tempe, Arizona.
Cameron Skattebo, now an Arizona State Sun Devil, was named the 2022 Big Sky conference offensive player of the year for FCS Sacramento State. Now, after joining new head coach Kenny Dillingham, in the PAC-12, Skattebo had his breakout performance last weekend.
Put the team on his back
The number five USC Trojans were in town, which prompted Sun Devil fans to pack Mountain America Stadium. With the Sun Devils down countless players due to injury, the offense leaned on Skattebo to keep them in the game. And he did just that. Dillingham dialed up Skattebo’s number over and over again, to the tune of 190 total yards on 24 carries. While pulling out some trickeration, he also completed two passes for 42 yards. Skattebo was everywhere and had Arizona State down just one score late in the fourth quarter.
Skattebo is an intriguing evaluation because of what surrounds him. The Sun Devils, most importantly on the offensive line and in the quarterback room, have caught a tremendous injury bug. This is obviously the last thing a running back needs to showcase his talents. However, Skattebo shined on Saturday.
Skattebo has a nice blend of size, speed, and contact balance. The highlight of the day was an unbelievable catch on 4th and 7. On this play, he broke a tackle, stayed up, trucked another defender, stayed up again, and scored. This is the play making the rounds on the internet, but there were several more. Skattebo found some rare running room with rather quick cuts for a player that’s listed at 215 pounds. Skattebo also forced seven missed tackles against Alex Grinch’s defense.
In conclusion
Whether Skattebo declares for the 2024 NFL draft or not remains a mystery. With the running back market in a challenging spot, many players may feel it is wise to go pro as early as possible. Regardless of whether it is the 2024 or 2025 NFL Draft, Skattebo is absolutely a name to watch.