Cam Skattebo. Image Credit: Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images
Arizona State football had an absolutely magical season this past year, defying everyone’s expectations and energizing the entire region by winning the Pac 12 division and taking #3 Texas to double overtime in the playoffs in perhaps the best game of the year in college football. Phenom running back Cam Skattebo was a big reason for this, and as he enters a truly life-changing time of his life, he also is confronting the potential pitfalls of fame before he even enters the NFL.
Skattebo put all of college football (and the NFL) on notice with his 2024 season, rushing for 1,711 yards, gaining another 605 yards receiving, and finding the end zone 24 times for the year. More than that however, his style of play turned heads, showing himself to be tough as nails with a versatile but bruising style of play that will likely translate well to the NFL. That play earned him an invite to the NFL Combine, where players preparing to enter next month’s draft have their chance to show off the NFL teams.
Skattebo did not disappoint during the combine either. He did earn some skepticism by not participating in the 40-yard dash, but he compensated and showed out with a 39.5″ vertical jump and a 10’3″ broad jump, the former being second amongst all running backs and demonstrating massive power in his lower body. He did what he needed to do.
He played like the second best running back in all of college football last year, second only to Boise State phenom Ashton Jeanty, and his Combine performance bolstered that rank. Draft experts seem to be expecting him to be drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round, putting him in line for a good NFL payday. But as the Notorious B.I.G. once said, “Mo’ money, mo’ problems”, and Skattebo seems as though he will be finding that out firsthand.
Skattebo is now being sued by a former teammate to the tune of $300,000 for an incident that seems to amount to aggressive horseplay. Skattebo was allegedly jumping up and down on the back of a golf cart which was on the field during a practice, with said teammate sitting in it. His jumping caused the player to fall out, allegedly injuring his elbow badly enough that it required surgery. While it does seem to be a freakish accident, the lawsuit comes at a very unfortunate time, right when it may matter most.
Skattebo certainly has what it takes physically to excel in the NFL. But the next level brings with it any number of different challenges and pitfalls, of people who are looking to take advantage of your fame and get a piece of the action. This will only deepen if he does find success at the next level. Hopefully this is a teachable moment for him.