Cam Skattebo is the Most Fun Running Back in the Big 12

Cam Skattebo doesn’t make sense.

He’s listed at 5’11”, 215 pounds, which is fine. Normal running back size. Nothing special physically. You look at him and think “yeah, okay, standard football player.”

And then you watch him play and he’s the most violent runner in the Big 12.

Skattebo doesn’t try to avoid contact. He looks for it. He runs THROUGH defenders. He breaks tackles that shouldn’t be broken. He takes hits that should end runs and somehow keeps his legs churning.

The film is insane. There’s a run against Arizona where he takes a hit from a linebacker at the four-yard line, absorbs it completely, drags the defender two more yards, and falls into the end zone. The linebacker hit him perfectly. Clean shot. Full speed. Skattebo didn’t care.

But here’s the thing that makes him special: he also catches the ball.

42 receptions this year. 387 receiving yards. 3 receiving touchdowns. That’s a slot receiver’s production from a running back. He runs routes. He catches in traffic. He’s a legit weapon in the passing game.

Arizona State uses him everywhere. In the backfield. Split out wide. In motion. Lined up in the slot. They’re constantly trying to get mismatches and let Skattebo work.

Jake’s note: Skattebo is the guy I’d least want to tackle in the entire conference. He runs angry. Like someone told him the defender insulted his family right before the snap. Every carry is personal.

The NFL is going to love him. A running back who can run between the tackles, catch passes, and never goes down on first contact? That’s exactly what modern offenses want.

Watching Skattebo is pure entertainment. He’s not the fastest. He’s not the biggest. But he might be the toughest, and in college football, tough wins a lot of games.

Thank you, Cam Skattebo, for being the most fun watch in the Big 12. Keep running angry.

— Mike