Cam Skattebo tiered by ESPN’s Mike Clay as a committee RB for Giants
ESPN's Mike Clay lists New York Giants and former ASU back Cam Skattebo as a committee back amongst rookies from the 2025 NFL Draft.
Watch: Kenny Dillingham, Reed Harris & Graham Rossini talk from Camp Tontozona | 18 mins
As New York Giants and former Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo enters his rookie season, one expert NFL writer gave his thoughts on where he ranks Skattebo amongst running backs from the 2025 NFL Draft.
ESPN’s Mike Clay lists Skattebo in the committee back tier amongst rookies from the draft. Clay notes Skattebo’s ability to evade tacklers and presence in the passing game for his placement on the list.
He’s one of the oldest RBs in this class at 23, but that’s not enough to offset his elite efficiency during two seasons at Arizona State. Skattebo’s 110 forced missed tackles were second to Jeanty in the FBS last season, and his 15% target share and 11.1 yards per target were the draft class’s best in the pass game.
Skattebo is coming off a 2024 season where he became the first college player since Christian McCaffery to register over 1,500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in a single season. Skattebo’s 1,711 rushing yards were the second-most in college football last season, behind only Las Vegas Raiders and former Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty (2,601).
Skattebo also had a presence in the passing game for the Sun Devils, catching 45 passes for 605 yards and three touchdowns.
Clay projects the fourth-rounder to rush for 619 yards on 160 carries, with four rushing touchdowns while catching 29 passes for 213 yards and a score. Clay notes Skattebo’s role might be limited in 2025 due to the production of running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. last season.
Skattebo is not super fast, but his size (5-foot-11, 215 pounds) and three-down skill set supplies him with a solid long-term outlook. However, his short-term numbers will likely be limited because 2024 fifth-round pick Tyrone Tracy Jr. had a breakout 2024 season.
How does Cam Skattebo fit in the Giants’ running back room?
Skattebo joins a Giants backfield that features Tracy and veteran back Devin Singletary. Tracy is coming off a season where he rushed for 839 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie, while Singletary rushed for 437 yards and four touchdowns. Tracy also caught 38 catches for 284 yards and a touchdown in 2024.
With Singletary entering his seventh NFL season in 2025 with over 1,000 carries in his career, Skattebo could be a candidate to take over as the RB2 on the Giants beyond 2025.
While Tracy, who ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash at the 2024 combine, appears to be more of the speedy back on the roster, Skattebo could give the Giants more of a ground and pound style out of the backfield.
Related
Cam Skattebo knows he's proved 'zero' in NFL, eager to get started with Giants
Cam Skattebo ready to bring same mindset from ASU to New York Giants
ASU offense held without touchdown in Camp T scrimmage despite multiple red zone trips
ASU unveils new Roses & Devils uniforms ahead of 2026 season
Alo-Tupuola has stabilized ASU’s offensive line from center after a year of inconsistency
Jayden Daniels sent LSU cease-and-desist because a player is wearing his old jersey number
Comments
2 Comments
Easy for these 'experts' to say things on their lawn chairs regarding our hometown protégée.
He’s listed as a committee running back because that’s what he is and his usage will be limited because he can’t pass protect on third down and needs to learn how this season before he can play with any consistency as a 3 down back and miss the passing game. I wouldn’t of minded drafting him as a long term option paired with Trey Benson if he was there in RD5 but I definitely wasn’t thrilled with the idea of using a 3rd or 4th rd pick on him because we just drafted a better RB last season who was much better at forcing missed tackles than even Skatt was in 64th overall pick 6”1-216lb Trey Benson w/4.37 speed. Benson forced 124 missed tackles on 310 carries since 2022 of 40 PERCENT OF HIS CARRIES HES FORCED missed tackles which is crazy. Bensons 0.51 forced missed tackles per attempt is the highest in last 10+ years per pff. 2nd is Bjon Robinson .41 per attempt. And Bensons last two seasons he averaged an Elite overall PFF overall grade of 91.3 since 2022, 3rd among all power five running backs.
Benson like Skatt also needed to learn how to pass protect as a rookie and was excellent when he was called upon as a rookie, from week 7 on he averaged 5.6YPC and on the seasons for the year averaged 4.6YPC.
Given Bensons elite size/speed for the position at now 6”1/220 w/4.37 speed also able to play a big role in the pass game I think his ceiling is a lot higher than Skatts as RB1 and starting this year along with elite top 5 ranked RB James Connor will be leaned on and used a lot more in conjunction with Connor to keep James healthy all year now that they can trust him on 3rd down and in the pass game. I think Benson explodes and will be a 1K+YD back for a long time.
Plus we have other very talented rotational backup backs like RB Michael Carter who’s a 4th rd pick of UNC or excellent 3rd down back Emari Demarcado who’s also great on ST, and backup RB and Pro Bowl special teamed return man RB Deejay Dallas so I just think their was the justification to take Skatt any higher than round 4 in the draft.
Skatt ended up in RD4 and I’d much rather have OSU All American 6”2-235lb excellent MLB Cody Simon who outta the box can call a defense, is a beastly run and chase RB who’s elite versus the run and good in pass coverage. His ceiling is becoming a very good ILB in this league for a long time and fills much more of a need for us.