It may have taken an extra game to prove it, but it seems unanimous at this point: Cam Skattebo was the best running back in college football this year.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Skattebo’s epic 2024 campaign for Arizona State landed him on the AP and CBS Sports All-American teams, and he was just named to another major media outlet’s on Tuesday.
ASU’s superstar was named to ESPN’s All-America First Team.
Truly an elite running back.
Cam Skattebo named to the @espn All-America First Team ‼️#ForksUp /// #ActivateTheValley pic.twitter.com/YzYHhZYXTP
— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) January 15, 2025
Skattebo shares the two running back spots with Heisman Trophy finalist Ashton Jeanty out of Boise State. The standout running backs had been in a tug-of-war the back half of the season, competing for bragging rights as college football’s best back.
Heisman voters put Jeanty on the stage in New York. But on CFB’s biggest stages — the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl and VRBO Fiesta Bowl — Skattebo shined much brighter in his bowl game.
Boise State played Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff. Jeanty fought hard for 104 yards on 30 carries, but it wasn’t nearly enough to compete with the Nittany Lions in the 31-14 loss.
Skattebo literally almost won the Sun Devils quarterfinal matchup against Texas by himself. After being stunted in the first three quarters of the Peach Bowl, an apparently depleted Skattebo dug deep down to deliver one of the greatest performances in college football playoff history.
The Sun Devil savior scored three touchdowns (two rushing, one passing) to pull Arizona State through two overtime periods with the Longhorns. While the second of two extra periods ended in a 39-31 defeat, Skattebo finished with the showing of a lifetime. He walked off the field with 284 total yards from team-leading 143 rushing yards and 99 receiving yards, chipping in an additional 42 yards on his touchdown pass. The All-American was named the first ever Peach Bowl Offensive MVP to come from the losing team.
CAM SKATTEBO 42 YARD TOUCHDOWN PASS ON 4TH AND TWO!!!!!!!!! INSANITY. pic.twitter.com/ouCJf9GLA2
— Barstool Big12 (@BarstoolBig12) January 1, 2025
Skattebo’s 1,711 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns set new ASU single-season record, breaking Eno Benjamin’s 1,642-yard mark set in 2018 and surpassing Woody Green’s 19 touchdowns, which had stood since 1972. He added an additional 605 yards and three touchdowns on 45 receptions.
The senior is one of the top running backs in this year’s NFL Draft.
ASU, Cam Skattebo receive shout-out from Houston Texans’ star
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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
