It's almost that time, folks. Just three more sleeps until Arizona State football has returned to grace our lives. Until then, we have just four more players from Sun Devil lore we want to highlight.
Yesterday, we brought you the story of quarterback Manny Wilkins and the somewhat recent legacy he left behind. Today, however, we're going to focus on a star that reignited the program to a historic season last year.
Running back Cam Skattebo scored 29 total touchdowns in 2024, a school record, and practically single-handedly led ASU to a near upset of Texas in the Peach Bowl during the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
CAM SKATTEBO WITH THE 42-YARD TD PASS ON FOURTH DOWN 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/CksEs2NL4K
— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2025
Cam Skattebo exemplified the PT42 attitude
The Rio Linda, California native was a 0-star recruit when he committed to Sacramento State in 2020. Though he quickly turned heads during his freshman and sophomore seasons, entering the transfer portal as the Big Sky offensive player of the year.
He landed in Tempe in 2023 and made an instant impact in new head coach Kenny Dillingham's offense, earning praise for his versatility as a rusher, receiver and even a creative passer. Then the 2024 season came around and Skattebo exploded onto the national scene.
His 2,316 all-purpose yards were second only to Heisman Trophy finalist Ashton Jeanty. Skattebo himself finished fifth in the Heisman voting, just missing out on an invitation to New York City as a finalist. He used that as motivation to prove doubters wrong at the Peach Bowl, earning offensive MVP honors as a member of the losing team - a first in the bowl game's history.
Cam Skattebo was named the Offensive MVP of the Peach Bowl pic.twitter.com/HOxxdNW0Ia
— Brad Denny (@BDenny29) January 1, 2025
Skattebo entered the 2025 NFL Draft after his career senior year and was selected 105th overall by the New York Giants. Despite suffering a hamstring injury ahead of the preseason, he still figures to make the team's 53-man roster and serve as a backup to second-year rusher Tyrone Tracy Jr. He'll be one to keep an eye on as the NFL season progresses because he could break out at any moment.
Sun Devil fans won't forget Skattebo for quite awhile if ever. He redefined what it meant to have the PT42 attitude and was one of the sparks Dillingham needed to reignite the Sun Devil program back to prominence. Now it's on Skattebo's former teammates to continue carrying the torch.