How Cam Skattebo's offseason work gave ASU a magical Big 12 run

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

When you rush for 1,000 yards and lead the resurgence of a program that has been among the worst in college football for the last two seasons, that’s exactly what happens.

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

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

Six NFL scouts were present at a practice last month. The minute it ended, they went over to exchange a few words with ASU running backs coach Shaun Aguano. Sure, there are other professional prospects on ASU’s roster, but it was Skattebo they wanted to take a look at.

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

“We told him things he needed to do and he took that to heart and did everything we asked him to do. That’s why you’re dating the guy you’re dating this season.”

Skattebo was outstanding in 2023, rushing for 783 yards and nine touchdowns and catching 24 passes for an additional 286 yards.

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

“I said, ‘Listen, if you want to play on Sundays … you’re going to lose weight, you’re going to get in better shape, you’re going to be faster, you’re going to control your passion and you’re going to channel it,” Dillingham said earlier this season . “He did everything I asked of him. At the moment 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 taken home Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors four times, making him a leading contender for postseason honors in the conference.

The improvement was helped by a better offensive line, but another significant difference comes from the work the 5-foot-10, 220-pound dynamo did in the offseason, which Aguano and head coach Kenny Dillingham discussed with him after the 2023 season have spoken.

Strength and conditioning coach Joe Connolly oversees the players’ offseason program. Connelly said the plan he and the coaching staff came up with began in January and was aimed at losing some weight and getting faster.

Skattebo also worked closely with the team’s nutritionist. It was a unique arrangement for him, as off-season work and diet depend heavily on a player’s position.

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 prospects, says the Sun Devils star played at about 230 pounds last year and he’s lost about 15 pounds. Skattebo also had to build some muscle to withstand the physical demands he endures as a running back.

The training metrics prove Skattebo is faster. This year he has reached a running speed of 21 miles per hour; He struggled to reach 20 last year. How can this be translated?

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

It wasn’t uncommon for Skattebo to break the line of scrimmage only to be chased by a faster defensive back.

There was no defender chasing the Sun Devils from behind this season. His longest runs from scrimmage in five games this season were 23 yards or longer. He has five games with 147 or more yards, including a career-high 262 in the win over Mississippi State.

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

ByAmelia Pressman

By Amelia Pressman

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