Cam Skattebo on winning traits he will bring to Giants
This year, Cam Skattebo was fifth on the list.
Thus, no trip back in mid-December to the big city.
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7 Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo blows a kiss toward fans after Texas' 39-31 in double overtime win in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Jan. 1, 2025.
Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
'I wasn't too bummed about the Heisman situation,'' Skattebo said. 'Those were great players. But I'm going to New York now for a long time, so let's do it.''
Yes, Skattebo will be spending plenty of time in the New York area — more specifically, across the Hudson River, in East Rutherford, N.J.
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The bruising, bullish running back was selected by the Giants on Saturday in the fourth round of the NFL Draft and he brings a definite dimension to how he runs the football.
'Physical, downhill, get to the end zone back,'' Skattebo said. 'I love to score touchdowns. That's what I do.''
It was no secret the Giants wanted to add to a running back room that featured Tyrone Tracy Jr., veteran Devin Singletary and not much else.
7 Tyrone Tracy Jr. (left) and Devin Singletary leave the field after the the Giants' 20-13 loss to the Eagles
last season.
Bill Kostroun/New York Post
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The middle rounds is where general manager Joe Schoen points to as prime real estate to get a running back.
Skattebo broke out for Arizona State in 2024, rushing for a school-record 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns and amassing 2,316 all-purpose yards.
He can catch the ball out of the backfield.
At 5-foot-9 ¹/₂ and 219 pounds he does not possess blazing speed — 4.65 in the 40-yard dash — and most likely will not run away from NFL defensive backs.
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7 Cam Skattebo is tackled by Texas linebacker Colin Simmons during the fourth quarter of Arizona State's loss to Texas in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1, 2025.
Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
'Yeah, I wouldn't consider myself not that player, but I can do it if I need to,'' Skattebo said. 'I play my brand of football, and I continue to do that, and that's what's given me success.''
In the college game, the lack of top-end speed did not matter much, as Skattebo simply broke tackles or ran through defenders.
He has a compact body with tree-trunk legs and scouts say he plays more like a linebacker than a running back.
Instead of shying away from contact, he relishes it.
7 Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo watches as running back prospects run the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine on March 1, 2025.
AP
'You can go back, watch some film from back in the day,'' Skattebo said. 'It's always been a very physical game for me. Since the age of six years old, I've been doing the same thing. Throughout my life I've stuck with the path that I've put myself on, and it's working out. I'm going to continue to do that because that's what is bringing me success.''
This pick comes one year after the Giants selected Tracy in the fifth round.
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That proved to be excellent value, as Tracy finished second among all NFL rookies with 839 rushing yards.
Now the Giants have a 1-2 punch with Tracy and Skattebo.
7 Cam Skattebo celebrates after rushing for a touchdown during Arizona State's loss to Texas in the Peach Bowl.
Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
What happens with Singletary remains to be seen.
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The 27-year old started only five games in 2024 and was limited to only 113 rushing attempts and 437 yards.
He is scheduled to count $6.25 million on the salary cap and is signed through 2026.
Having a fifth-round pick and a fourth-round pick in the backfield is Schoen's preferred way to build an offense.
7 Ashton Jeanty (left) and Cam Skattebo look on during the NFL Scouting Combine on March 1, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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The previous Giants regime selected Saquon Barkley with the No. 2 overall pick in 2018 and, despite periods of excellence mixed in with injuries, Barkley after six years could not come to contract terms with the Giants, signed with the Eagles, rushed for 2,005 yards in the regular season and won a Super Bowl.
Skattebo, after running for 170 yards and scoring three touchdowns in a 45-19 victory over Iowa State to win the Big 12 Conference championship game, declared 'Nobody respects the fact that I'm the best running back in the country. If people want to disrespect that, I am going to keep going and I am going to keep proving people wrong.'
He was the eighth running back taken in this draft.
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Wearing a Giants hat and surrounded by family and friends, Skattebo bowed his head and cried when he heard his name announced as the 105th overall pick.
7 Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis.
AP
He received no major program offers coming out of high school in California and starred at Sacramento State before raising his NFL stock at Arizona State.
'It kind of shows more of the path of how people have doubted me a little bit, and now that the Giants believe in me, I'm going to believe in them and what they've got and what we have as a team, and I'm going to try to go win a championship,'' Skattebo said.
'I'm ready to give it everything I've got. I can't wait to be there. It's going to be awesome.''
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