That “C” in Cam is for a certified workhorse. Cam Skattebo is the kind of back who leaves bruises on defenders and memories in the minds of coaches. With a motor that doesn’t quit, he carved out a reputation at Arizona State Sun Devils as a do-it-all offensive weapon, a guy who could break tackles, catch passes, and even throw his body into the trenches when the game demanded it. However, in the ruthless world of NFL scouting, none of that matters if the stopwatch tells the wrong story. Unfortunately, “Arizona State standout running back Cam Skattebo officially ran a 4.65 40-yard dash at his Pro Day today.” That Pro Day line was exactly what could make front offices hesitate. Not slow, but “S” in Skattebo is not for speed.
That’s where Kenny Dillingham comes in. ASU’s head coach isn’t letting a single time from a single day dictate the narrative around his most versatile offensive weapon. Following ASU’s April 1, Tuesday practice, Dillingham delivered five words to NFL scouts that made his stance crystal clear: “You want to draft him.” No hesitation, no qualifiers—just the unwavering belief that Skattebo is too good to pass up. “He can do so many things that … if you’re a team that relies on matchups, and truly looks for matchups — he’s a nightmare,” Dillingham said.
“Because you can line him up at running back, you can line him up in the slot, you can line him up as a No. 1 receiver, you can line him up in the wildcat quarterback, you can run the ball in short-yardage downs.” The message? NFL teams that focus too much on his 40 time and not enough on his film will regret it. Kenny Dillingham wasn’t done there. He emphasized that Cam Skattebo’s intelligence and versatility make him a dream for any offensive coordinator willing to think outside the box. “Like he can do so many things for you that his versatility is such a weapon, and he’s so intelligent that he can do it all.”
And what if NFL teams don’t take notice now? They will when they have to game-plan against him. “Dang, I have to play him,” Dillingham warned, painting a future where Skattebo becomes the kind of matchup problem that keeps defensive coordinators up at night. The NFL is a league of adjustments, and the ones that fail to recognize Skattebo’s value now may be scrambling to contain him later. Coach KD isn’t just hyping up his guy, either. The analytics back him up. Pro Football Focus recently ranked the top running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft across nine different categories, and while Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty took the top spot in four, Cam Skattebo wasn’t far behind.
In fact, he finished first in three key categories—each one reinforcing the exact strengths Coach Dillingham has been preaching to NFL teams. If you need a tough yard? Skattebo is your guy. “His 94.1 rushing grade on plays when the offense needed three yards or fewer led the nation over the last two seasons.” If you need a running back, who can be a true weapon in the passing game? Skattebo has that covered, too. “His 829 receiving yards since 2023 are the most among running backs in this draft class and second overall.” And if you just want a guy who refuses to go down? There’s a reason PFF named him the ‘Most Determined Runner’ in this class.
That last category might be the most telling. Skattebo is a back built on sheer willpower, the kind of guy who embodies the old-school ‘leave it all on the field’ mentality. His defining moment wasn’t a flashy juke or a highlight-reel hurdle—it was throwing up on the sideline in the CFP Quarterfinal, then getting back on the field and delivering a performance for the ages. He’s the kind of player who runs with bad intentions and an even worse attitude toward defenders. Numbers can’t always capture that, but film can, and Skattebo’s is full of moments that scream NFL-ready.
The man himself has never been shy about his confidence, and that’s not changing now. He’s been doubted before, and he’s met every challenge with the same response—by running through it. “Nobody respects the fact that I’m the best running back in the country. And I’m going to stand on that,” Skattebo said after bulldozing Iowa State in ASU’s 45-19 Big 12 Championship victory.
The 4.65 might have some scouts second-guessing, but Skattebo isn’t losing an ounce of sleep over it, and neither should you.
Why Kenny Dillingham says Cam Skattebo’s 40 time doesn’t matter one bit
In the two-horse draft class, Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo is projected as an early Day 3 pick. But if you ask ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham, there’s one thing scouts are putting way too much stock in—Skat’s dash timer.
“He ran a time that’s what everybody thought he was going to run, so I think people should judge him off his tape,” Dillingham said. And honestly, he’s got a point. If scouts need proof of Skattebo’s ability, maybe they should start with the Texas game, where he racked up 284 total yards and 3 touchdowns against a defense filled with future NFL players. But Dillingham isn’t stopping there.
“No, I just tell them to watch every single play,” he said. “Dude plays with such a passion, such an aggressiveness, such great contact balance. His short area quickness is elite. His vertical jump shows the power he has, which is why he has the contact balance.”
While the straight-line athleticism may not be there in a way that many want out of their running back, being named in PFF’s top back in three critical categories proves that his well-rounded game is built for success at the next level.
The post Cam Skattebo’s Pro Day Blunder Forces Kenny Dillingham Into Damage Control as ASU HC Sends Strong Message to NFL appeared first on EssentiallySports.
