Cam Skattebo says he won’t run 40 at NFL combine
INDIANAPOLIS – One thing NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah wanted to see from Cam Skattebo, the former Arizona State running back who put on a show during the first two rounds of the College Football Playoff (and all of last season, really), was the 40-yard dash time.
He’ll have to wait a bit longer.
Skattebo said Friday at the combine that he won’t participate in the event at Lucas Oil Stadium and will instead run it during the Sun Devils’ pro day. He will do the vertical and broad jump when running backs take the field Saturday.
“People don’t think I’m as fast as I am,” Skattebo said, “which, I am fast.”
Jeremiah said on a conference call with reporters last week that Skattebo would do well to run in the 40 in the 4.5s. Because he loves everything else about the former Sacramento State back who transferred to Arizona State before the 2023 season.
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“This kid, he just chooses violence,” Jeremiah said. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a more aggressive runner who just seeks out contact and can absorb contact.”
At 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, Skattebo rolled through his college opponents like a bowling ball on his way to fifth place in Heisman Trophy voting. In 13 games last season, he rushed for 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns. Skattebo was particularly effective in the passing game, with 45 receptions for 605 yards and three scores.
“My objective at the end of the day is (to) get to the end zone,” the Rio Linda, California native said. “Being able to do that the way I do it, it works, so I’m going to continue to do it until it doesn’t work and then figure out how to make something work.”
Skattebo had three total touchdowns (two rushing) and 170 yards on the ground in the Sun Devils’ Big 12 championship game victory over Iowa State. But his signature performance came against Texas in the 2025 Peach Bowl, the CFP quarterfinals. Skattebo rushed 30 times for 143 yards with two touchdowns, caught eight balls for 99 yards and even threw a touchdown pass. Despite the loss in double overtime to Texas, Skattebo was named the game’s MVP.
“I’m physical. … Punish the defender because they don’t want to do it for four quarters,” said Skattebo, who said he was surprised he was the lone Sun-Devil invitee to Indianapolis.
“Going to Arizona State was the best decision I’ve made in my life,” Skattebo added. “They set me up for success and put me where I’m at now.”
Jeremiah didn’t have to leave the state of Arizona to look for a pro comparison by referencing a Cardinals back.
“When I was looking for a comp for him, my first thought was, ‘OK, he’s like a shrunk-down James Conner,’’ Jeremiah said.
But the most accurate depiction Jeremiah offered came from the game show “The Price is Right” and the game “Plinko,” when contestants drop chips that bounce off pegs in every direction as they cascade down a board.
“He’s just bouncing off everything and everybody,” Jeremiah said. “We know he can catch it. We know, obviously, the vision, balance, and toughness. The only question is going to be the top speed. To me, he looks like he’d probably be a low 4.6 (40-yard dash) guy.”
Mock drafts that go beyond the first round have Skattebo pegged to the middle rounds, anywhere from the third to the fifth. This draft class isn’t lacking running backs, either, with Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton going in the first round in USA TODAY Sports’ latest mock draft. But one team will eventually turn in a draft card with Skattebo’s name on it.
“Whoever gets him is going to have one of the most aggressive and physical runners that we’ve seen in the last few years,” Jeremiah said. “He’s a fun one.”
