2025 NFL Combine: Cam Skattebo made huge impression despite skipping 40-yard dash

Last week, we broke down the stakes that Arizona State star running back Cam Skattebo was facing at the 2025 NFL Combine. He had the chance to cement himself as the second best running back in this year's draft with a strong showing as the only Sun Devil invited to Indianapolis.

Well, Skattebo ultimately opted not to participate in the 40-yard dash or any of the on-field drills, but he still walked away from the combine with one of the top performances of any player, not just the running backs, in this year's talent showcase.

Both numbers for Skattebo - a 39.5" vertical and 10'3" broad jump - immediately raised eyebrows for how much they showed off his elite burst. That instant reaction held up over time, as Skattebo finished in the top tier of running backs in both categories, with only one player topping his vertical jump.

Making matters even better for Skattebo, his elite testing numbers combined with his strong body of work from a season that saw him finish fifth in Heisman voting resulted in Skattebo emerging as the clear RB2 behind Ashton Jeanty, at least according to the Combine IQ feature from NFL's Next Gen Stats.

Skattebo still has one test to pass for scouts before he can count on being the consensus second running back in the draft, and that's his 40-yard dash time. The running back ultimately chose not to participate in that test in Indianapolis due to a nagging hamstring issue, but he anticipates being able to run the 40-yard dash at his upcoming pro day.

Nobody had a more impressive season than Skattebo did in 2024 - well, except for consensus RB1 Jeanty - and his elite showing at the combine went a long way towards erasing any concerns over his athleticism.

Skattebo was so impressive that Kyle Brandt, co-host of Good Morning Football on NFL Network, went on an epic rant Monday morning demanding that the Sun Devil legend get more respect on his name from draft experts going forward.