How Cam Skattebo’s offseason work brought ASU a magical Big 12 run

On By Littum

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Senior running back Cam Skattebo is one of the more popular football players to come through the Arizona State program. He even has two food items named after him at popular local eateries.

When you’ve rushed for 1,000 yards and led the resurgence of a program that was one of the worst in college football the previous two seasons, that’s what happens.

Skattebo is the face of the program this season. He was good last season but this season he has been phenomenal and his performance is a big reason why Sun Devils (9-2, 6-2) has gone from pretender to College Football Playoff contender overnight.

The Sun Devils, part of a four-way tie for first place in the Big 12, face rival Arizona (4-7, 2-6) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Arizona in the regular season finale for both schools. With a win, ASU furthers its case for a spot in the title game, scheduled for Dec. 7 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Six NFL scouts attended a practice last month. The moment it ended, they migrated over to have a few words with ASU running backs coach Shaun Aguano. Sure, there are other pro prospects on the ASU roster, but it was Skattebo they were there to check out.

“We sit down with all of our guys at the end of the year to talk about the future and what their goals are,” Aguano said. “Cam is a guy who wants to play at the next level.

“There were things we told him to do and he took it to heart, did everything we asked. That’s why you see the guy you see this season.”

Skattebo was fantastic in 2023, rushing for 783 yards and nine touchdowns and catching 24 passes for another 286 yards.

Dillingham knows Skattebo wants to play in the NFL and had some strong words after the 2023 campaign.

“I said, ‘Listen, if you’re going to play on Sundays … you’re going to lose weight, you’re going to get in better shape, you’re going to get faster, you’re going to control your passion and you’re going to channel it,'” Dillingham previously said on the season. “He’s done everything I’ve asked of him. Right now it looked like a Sunday player.”

With at least one game left this season, Skattebo is up to 1,221 yards and 14 touchdowns rushing with another 34 receptions for 460 receiving yards and two scores. Had he not missed the Central Florida game with a shoulder injury, Skattebo could threaten the school’s single-season rushing mark of 1,642 yards set by Eno Benjamin in 2018.

He has already taken home Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors four times, making him a leading contender for the conference’s postseason honors.

The improvement has been aided by a better offensive line, but another significant difference comes from the work the 5-foot-11, 215-pound dynamo put in during the offseason, something Aguano and head coach Kenny Dillingham talked to him about after the 2023 campaign .

Strength and conditioning coach Joe Connolly oversees the players’ offseason regimen. Connelly said the plan he and the coaching staff came up with started in January and was geared toward losing some weight and getting faster.

Skattebo also worked closely with the team’s dietician. It was a regimen unique to him because off-season work and diets depend a lot on the position a player plays.

Connolly said Skattebo could be a little stubborn when it came to changing his diet, but Skattebo got sick and lost some weight — which was the goal all along.

Connolly, who also talks to NFL scouts about ASU’s potential prospects, says the Sun Devils standout played around 230 pounds last year and he’s down about 15 pounds. Skattebo also needed to add some muscle so he could withstand the physical toll he takes as a running back.

The training measurements are proof that Skattebo is faster. This year he has reached a running speed of 21 miles per hour; last year he had trouble reaching 20. How does that translate?

Last season Skattebo’s longest run from scrimmage was 66 yards. It came against Washington State. His next longest run was 18 yards against USC. His season-high game was 121 yards.

It was not uncommon to see Skattebo break through the line only to be chased down by a faster defensive back.

This season, no defender has chased the Sun Devils down from behind. His longest run from scrimmage in five games this season has been 23 yards or longer. He has five games of 147 or more yards with a career-best 262 coming in the win over Mississippi State.

Connolly joked that the foods named after Skattebo aren’t necessarily good for his diet, so while it’s fine to post pictures on social media, Connolly hopes for the best for Skattebo’s physical condition.

“It’s all about moderation,” Connolly said. “It’s a great thing and I want him to enjoy them, but I don’t want him to enjoy them too much.”