The New York Giants landed a bulldozer in Cam Skattebo. The former Arizona State RB went to the Giants as the No. 105 overall pick in the fourth round. And just so you know, this pick isn’t about measurables or Combine clout. It was about grit. It was about attitude. After the draft, HC Brian Daboll was on point when he said, “He’s a 220-pound back who runs with power, toughness and has the type of personality that I I think Joe (Schoen) did a great job of, along with the scouts, bringing in guys that have a lot of toughness.” That being said, there’s one major flaw that might have stalled the 23-year-old’s draft.
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Cam Skattebo’s speed. Yeah, he’s not the fastest running back. At ASU’s Pro Day, he clocked a disappointing 4.65 in the 40-yard dash. Perhaps the reason he slid to Day 3. Giants national scout Marcus Cooper didn’t sugarcoat it in an episode on New York Giants on May 9. “I think for Skattebo, he was, at the end of the day, we all look for all these traits. You’re like ‘Oh is he fast? Is he explosive?’” he acknowledged the flaw but also added. “But I think the football intangible with him, the toughness, the gritty, the desire. I think at the end of the day, this is still a physical sport and this kid runs with a lot of physicality and a demeanor that I feel like you want your culture to be built on.” The message here is forget the stopwatch and watch the tape!
Cooper praised Cam Skattebo for the one thing you can’t coach. His mentality. “He runs with violence, he plays the game the right way in my opinion and I appreciate that about him,” he said, pounding the table for the guy he believes in. The kid himself laid it bluntly on PHNX Sports reveling in his playing style — “I did hit (defenders) really hard, you know. Definitely didn’t just let up and just defend myself. I laid into it.” Giants GM Joe Schoen called Cam Skattebo as “one of our favorite players in the draft.” You know why? “Just the way he plays, the mentality he plays with, the toughness, the competitiveness, the grit,” he said.
This tough mentality was instilled in him from a young age growing up in a hard background. “That’s just the kind of the game I play. Physical,” he added. “If you want to meet me at the goal line, then go ahead. We’ll see who wins that 1v1. I don’t believe anybody will ever stop me. If you don’t have full speed momentum, you might have no chance.” That’s the kind of talk you love to hear from a guy who led the FBS in missed tackles forced (102), second only to Ashton Jeanty. His style is pure punishment for defenders. And honestly, how many RBs love for contact like that anymore?
Cam Skattebo has a strong message regarding his NFL future
Bulldozing is a thing for Cam Skattebo and he’s not changing a thing even in the NFL. Because for him, it displays the effort you put in the weight room. “It feels good when you run somebody over and then get in the endzone,” he added. “It feels good when you get in the endzone, but imagine running someone over and then running another person over and then getting into the endzone. It’s that much better.” He was a force in Tempe in 2024 — 1,711 rushing yards, 605 receiving yards, and 24 TDs. He became the first since Christian McCaffrey in 2015 to drop 1,500+ rushing and 500+ receiving in a single season.
And by the way, Cam Skattebo also finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy race. Even with these stats, he’s not being complacent. And NFL teams might want to take notice. He’s already set for a physical season in 2025 with a strong message — “I’ve proved nothing. I’ve proved what I am in college, but I’ve proved nothing at this level so now where I’m at, I have to prove myself.” That’s not just humility, it’s hunger. Now, paired with Tyrone Tracy Jr., the duo could be a nightmare for the opposing defense.
From crying on draft night to declaring he’s got more to prove, Cam Skattebo’s story is just getting started. And if you think a 40-yard time is going to define him, you haven’t been paying attention.
The post Giants Scout Clears Feelings on Cam Skattebo’s Major Flaw as RB’s Strong Message Puts 31 NFL On Noticeco appeared first on EssentiallySports.
