Now that his college football career is done, it seems mainstream media is finally giving running back Cam Skattebo the respect he’s been asking for.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Following Arizona State’s Big 12 Championship win over Iowa State, Skattebo made a bold claim that he was the best running back in the country. Heisman Trophy voters clearly didn’t see it that way, inviting Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel and Miami quarterback Cam Ward to New York as a finalist in December while Skattebo stayed in The Valley and prepared for a quarterfinal College Football Playoffs matchup with Texas.
Skattebo and the Sun Devils weren’t able to outlast the Longhorns; however, once the All-American running went off for three touchdowns and nearly 300 all-purpose yards to almost singlehandedly will Arizona State by one of the best teams in the country, no one has discredited him since.
In fact, ESPN has him ranked higher than one of the Heisman finalists now that the season is over.
Skattebo claimed the No. 4 spot on ESPN’s top 100 college football players of the 2024-25 season.
3️⃣ Sun Devils named to the @espn top 100 college football players of the 2024-25 season????#ForksUp /// #ActivateTheValley pic.twitter.com/AHODmpuQwy
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) January 24, 2025
The blurb on Skattebo from ESPN staff writer Kyle Bonagura read:
“The former Sacramento State running back just missed out on a trip to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony by finishing fifth in the voting. A do-it-all back, Skattebo carried 293 yards for 1,711 yards with 21 touchdowns. He also caught 45 passes out of the backfield for 605 yards and three more scores. His play was the catalyst for ASU’s run to the Big 12 title and College Football Playoff, where it narrowly lost to Texas in the quarterfinals.”
Hunter, Jeanty and Ward bested Skattebo for the top three spots respectively. Each were named First Team All-Americans with Skattebo.
Gabriel, the last of the Heisman selections, didn’t even crack the top 10.
The Oregon quarterback has been the black sheep of the group, failing to make any first team selections with his elite counterparts. Gabriel didn’t even make the second team, losing out to Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. He was a third team selection and ranked as the 9th best player by ESPN.
“Though the end to his long college career was not what Gabriel might have wanted, he once again changed teams and seamlessly fit in and helped author a high-powered offense. At Oregon, Gabriel arguably found the best version of himself, a combination of experience, production and winning while putting together his most efficient passing campaign of his career. It wasn’t a storybook finale, but it was a fitting way to cap off a unique career,” said ESPN staff writer Paolo Uggeti.
Skattebo was one of three Sun Devils to make the cut, being joined by redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt and redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. The pair was one of the most deadly QB-WR duos in college football last season, lighting up the Big 12 as the conference’s Offensive Freshman (Leavitt) and Newcomer (Tyson) of the year.
Leavitt was listed 58th overall as a result of his incredible first season in Tempe. He was recently ranked as the No. 1 returning quarterback in 2025 by On3.
“The Michigan State transfer was a revelation in Tempe, where — with his arm and his legs — he helped guide the Sun Devils to the Big 12 title. With Leavitt in the lineup, ASU won 11 of its first 12 games before a double-overtime loss to Texas in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. He threw 24 touchdown passes and scored five on the ground,” Bonagura said.
Tyson found his way to being considered one of the top players in college football by becoming Leavitt’s No. 1 target. Despite missing the Big 12 title game and quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff, he was still responsible for almost half of his quarterbacks passing yards and touchdowns this season. He was one of the last wide receivers to be mentioned, taking the 89th overall slot on the list.
“After an injury sidelined him for most of the 2023 season, Tyson returned to earn third-team AP All-America honors for the Sun Devils. He caught 75 passes for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns, but he was unavailable for ASU’s CFP quarterfinal game against Texas,” Bonsagura said.
Arizona State star outranks former five-stars as best returning QB
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Reporter Jordyn Bennett covers the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona State, Phoenix area sports and sports related topics. You can follow him on his X account, @j_bennett_live
