Draft Profile: Cam Skattebo
Running Back, Arizona State
5’11, 215
Projected: Late Second to Third Round
Although there are rumors out there that the Steelers may be in negotiations with Najee Harris, not picking up his fifth-year option seems to indicate they aren’t very serious about retaining his services. There are a lot of RB needy teams out there that will also be willing to pay much more than Pittsburgh is willing to. Jaylen Warren is a Restricted Free Agent, and if my prayers are answered then Cordarrelle Patterson will not be back. So the Steelers will be in the market for a new ball carrier.
Hopefully the Steelers learned their lesson of taking a running back in the first round. While we have seen success with focusing on running the ball with the Ravens and Eagles make no mistake- the NFL is geared towards putting up points fast. Roger’s gotta keep the ratings up! Right Taylor Swift? That being said, running backs are still a huge part of a successful offense. The 2025 NFL Draft has a very deep RB class so you can get a high-quality player in later rounds.
Assuming that Jaylen Warren is returning to the Steelers, I’m not convinced he is an every down back or can handle a starter’s workload. He was very good with Najee as the 1 and himself as the 1B. Cam Skattebo would fit the 1 role very well while also giving the Steelers more versatility; to hopefully allow them to get away from the run, run, pass, punt offensive gameplan.
Strengths:
If you look for aggressiveness in a running back, Skattebo is your guy. He is a violent runner, and not only does he not shy away from contact; he’ll initiate it. His balance is unbelievable, he has a good spin move, and he gains extra yards through what seems like sure will. Despite his reputation as a bruising power back, I see a lot of agility and acceleration in his game. Surprisingly he also has good hands and runs good routes. He has solid field vision and finds holes to run through. He is a hard worker, a great team guy, and willing to do whatever necessary to make plays. He’s even completed a handful of passes in college including touchdowns. Skattebo plays with a chip on his shoulder and always seems out to prove he’s the best player on the field.
Weaknesses:
There are questions regarding Skattebo’s long speed. He has good acceleration but is caught from behind a lot when in open field. Part of this is due to his tendency to look over his shoulder for a stiff arm to fight for extra yards. Even though he is strong and powerful he has not shown good technique in pass protection which can result in missed blocks. He has also had some ball security issues in college at both Sacramento State and Arizona State. His toughness can be a detriment at times, and he does have a bit of an injury history. Fortunately a lot of these things can be coached up and improved upon. Some NFL scouts will most likely wonder if there is too much mileage on him particularly with his style of play.
How he fits:
Cam Skattebo would quickly become a fan favorite if drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yinzers have shown their support for bruising fullbacks like Dan Kreider, Rosie Nix, Derek Watt, and most recently Jack Colleto. Here’s a guy (sorry) that can play like a fullback but also has a lot more versatility to offer and is much more of a weapon as a halfback. He’ll be valuable in the play-action game as both a decoy and a check down receiver. Most of the faults in his game can be fixed with coaching. Steeler fans will love his heart and his work ethic.
Player Comp:
Skattebo to me has the same violent running style as Marshawn Lynch- and they are the same height and weight (although Lynch did seem to bulk up some later in his career). I am not expecting Skattebo to run in the 4.4’s in the 40-yard dash range at the Combine like Lynch did, but Skattebo also has better hands and runs routes surprisingly well. Both played with exceptional contact balance and were a load to bring down.
Closing:
The combine will answer a lot of questions about Skattebo’s athleticism, and some teams over-emphasize testing numbers in my opinion. If Skattebo runs better than expected, teams might have to use a second-round pick to get him. If he doesn’t do so well in the 40, he could slip in the draft, which is great for the Steelers. He’s an all-around good football player and what he is able to do in pads and a helmet are much more important to this than what he does on a track. Of course I’ll support whoever ends up being our ball carrier. But Skattebo is the type of guy that you go out and buy a new Steelers jersey for.
