No one expected the Arizona State Sun Devils to reach the Big 12 Championship, let alone earn a first-round bye in the playoffs. With Kenny Dillingham’s side emerging as the dark horse of the season, two other men who were equal parts important were Sam Leavitt and Cam Skattebo who were no less than saviors to each other. Now, as the 2025 season approaches, expectations are only climbing. But with Skattebo setting off on his NFL journey, the Sun Devils may face a different reality. And no one understands that shift better than Dillingham.

“ASU has changed my life forever,” Skattebo’s said after his epic Peach Bowl performance. And looking at the numbers, it’s clear why Arizona State is so protective of him. One of his best showings came on the grandest stage—against Texas in the College Football Playoff finale. The Sun Devils trailed by 16 in the fourth quarter, but Skattebo wasn’t ready to go home quietly. Literally throwing up on the sidelines, Skattbo rumbled for 143 yards and logged two touchdowns, dragging ASU back into the fight. Sure, Steve Sarkisian’s squad ultimately pulled off a 39–31 double-overtime win, but Stattebo still gave fans something to get hyped about. Main character energy, no doubt. Nothing could stop him from giving absolutely everything for his Sun Devils fam. He even said, “No matter what, these guys will be in my life forever.”

So it wasn’t surprising when ASU OC and OBs coach Marcus Arroyo sounded the alarm about life without him. “Skatt is special. You’re gonna miss some of those plays, obviously.” No lies detected. At Arizona State’s Pro Day, Skattebo showed off his wheels, clocking a 4.65 in the 40-yard dash. He’s NFL-bound now, but the impact he made on the program won’t fade anytime soon. Dillingham got emotional talking about it,

“There’s a lot of people who want to be you, a lot of people who want to be in your shoes whether you’re drafted in second round or fifth round, ninth round. They don’t even have that, right? It doesn’t matter. Like the opportunity to wear an NFL team’s jersey and to earn a job, and I mean, He broke the team down today because it was the last time he’ll probably be here before he is a professional athlete.

“Let’s break it down because Scouts are going to be around this program for a long, long time. As you guys can probably tell. This community has really embraced him. He’s embraced it.” 

Rightfully so. Skattebo’s resume is rock solid. In his senior year, he posted the second-most rushing yards in the nation with 283 carries for 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns. He’s got the tools. Knowing what the 23-year-old RB brings to the table, just a week before the draft, HC Dillingham sent a strong message to the NFL on what makes Skattebo so special. “Watch every single play. Dude plays with such a passion, such an aggressiveness, such great contact balance … Everything checks out … If you judge him off his tape, you won’t want to play him,” Dillingham said.

And just like that, the NFL buzz has already kicked in—with whispers placing Skattebo with a $5.2 billion NFL giant.

Where does Cam Skattebo fit the best in the NFL?

Well, college football gives players space to bounce back from setbacks. But the NFL? It’s ruthless. One wrong step can change everything. Just ask Nick Chubb. The Cleveland Browns’ star back suffered a brutal injury in Week 2 of the 2023 season, and everything shifted. From 1,525 yards in 2022, to just 170 in 2023, and 332 in 2024. It’s been a rough road. And now, Kevin Stefanski’s offense is looking for a reliable workhorse to fill the gap.

Enter PFF’s Mason Cameron, who might have found the answer. In his latest analysis, Cameron named the best Day 2 fit for each NFL team—and for the Browns, it was none other than Skattebo. “Cleveland has struggled to find a workhorse back to lean on since Nick Chubb’s devastating knee injury. Skattebo would undoubtedly fill the void.” So, why does Skattebo make sense for the Browns?

Versatility. Toughness. Dual-threat grit. That’s what makes him special. “His physicality jumps off the tape as both a runner and a blocker, possessing a mentality and the after-contact consistency that the Browns’ front office can build around while they figure out the quarterback situation.” And if you want to talk stats? Let’s line them up.

Chubb, even during his prime, averaged 5.1 yards per carry. But post-injury, in 2024? Just 3.3. It’s tough to see. Now compare that to Skattebo—who averaged 5.8 yards per carry on 293 attempts. Sure, college isn’t the pros, but it’s a promising indicator. He brings consistency and punishment after contact—traits that fit right into the Browns’ hard-nosed identity. So… could Skattebo be the next Chubb? Because if Cam Skattebo could do all that in college—just imagine what he might cook up on Sundays.