Incredible season continues for Cam Skattebo

TEMPE, Ariz. – Senior running back Cam Skattebo did everything for ASU football last season. This year, he’s been able to focus on being the best running back possible, and he’s done just that.

How good has Cam Skattebo been?

The bulldozing back has rushed for more than 1000 yards, caught 27 passes for more than 400 yards, and has 13 total touchdowns.

Last season, Skattebo rushed for 788 yards, caught 24 passes for 286 yards, and totaled nine touchdowns. The senior surpassed all those totals this season with four games left.

“He’s completely changed his work ethic and his mindset. He’s unrecognizable in my eyes from this year to last year,” head coach Kenny Dillingham said. “Two or three of those big plays this last game he may not have scored on last year. This version does because he has an extra gear, because he put in the work to get his body in the best shape of his life.”

In Saturday’s 42-21 win over Oklahoma State, Skattebo not only continued his incredible season, he had a historic performance. The senior back ran for 153 yards, added 121 receiving yards, and three total touchdowns.

Chasing history

Skattebo became the first Sun Devil with 100 rushing and receiving yards in the same game since Demario Richard in 2015. In addition, he earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors. This was the fourth time this season he’s won the award, and there are still four games to go.

The standout running back is averaging more than 125 rush yards, 50 receiving yards, and a touchdown per game. He’s averaging 5.8 yards per carry and 15 yards per reception. He also plays on kickoffs and is the leader of ASU football.

Here’s what Kenny Dillingham said when asked about Cam Skattebo’s Heisman pitch.

“I say you combine the stats with the mindset of our football team, and he’s one of the people that we take that mindset after,” Dillingham said. “Then you combine that with how far the program has come and I think that should add to his resumé.”

Skattebo may not play this week, what does that mean?

Dillingham announced Monday that Skattebo was doubtful for Saturday’s game against UCF. Skattebo left Saturday’s win over Oklahoma State with an undisclosed injury. It appears that injury will hold him out of this week’s game. Dillingham said Skattebo will not practice this week, and they’ll assess how he’s feeling at the end of the week.

If Skattebo does not play Saturday, sophomore running back Kyson Brown will get the bulk of the carries. Brown has 29 carries for 143 yards and two touchdowns this season. He’s also caught five passes for 96 yards and a touchdown.

Dillingham talked very highly of Kyson Brown

Before last week’s game, Dillingham praised Brown’s work ethic and ability to have impact plays while in the game. He said ASU needed to get Brown the ball more often, and that it did. Brown had 15 of his 29 carries against Oklahoma State and both his touchdowns.

“He did a phenomenal job breaking tackles,” Dillingham said. “He ran like a bigger back, which is what I was most pleased with. The most touches he’s gotten in a game, the most workload he’s gotten, and he stayed fresh throughout it.”

Brown is another talent from Texas. He’s sustained himself as the change of pace back behind Skattebo. However, the power he ran with against the Cowboys gave Dillingham confidence he could step in for Skattebo if needed.

Dillingham explained Brown’s extreme self-criticism to always be better, and why he’s excited for Brown to get more work going forward.

“He was the only guy who wasn’t celebrating after the game because he let the ball go for a quarter of a second on the one goal-line play. He was just so mad at himself for doing that,” Dillingham said. “That’s what you want your football team to be filled with. You want it to be filled with those guys that, yeah you had success, but man that one time that it wasn’t perfect, it just drives me insane, and he kind of had that to him. I’m like ‘Smile bud it’s ok, we just won the game, like you just had two touchdowns,’ and he just can’t get that one play out of his mind. But that’s why he’s where he’s at, and I’m excited for him.”

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