Cam Skattebo, the standout running back for the Arizona State Sun Devils, became one of the most talked-about players in college football this season. He led the Sun Devils to a Big 12 Championship against the odds, and in the College Football Playoff against Texas, Skattebo almost single-handedly rallied Arizona State back into the game, putting them in a position to win, though Texas ultimately prevailed.
Each offseason, as top upperclassmen gear up for the NFL Draft, one of the key events where players can showcase their skills to scouts is the Reese’s Senior Bowl, an all-star game featuring NFL Draft prospects. Skattebo received an invite to this year’s Senior Bowl but chose to opt out of playing.
Skattebo made a huge impact this season, partly due to his unshakable self-confidence. Toward the end of the regular season, he boldly declared himself “the best running back in the country.” While Skattebo had an impressive run at Arizona State, it’s tough to argue he was better than 2024 Maxwell Award winner Ashton Jeanty.
Statistically, Jeanty (who rushed for 2,601 yards, 29 touchdowns, and averaged 7.0 yards per carry) outperformed Skattebo (1,711 rushing yards, 5.8 YPC, 605 receiving yards, and 24 total touchdowns). Still, that doesn’t diminish Skattebo’s dominant season or his potential for success at the next level.
Regarding the Senior Bowl, it seems that the longer college season is making things more complicated for some players, leading to several opting out.
Here are the names of the players who opted out of the Senior Bowl:
- Elic Ayomanor
- Vernon Broughton
- Jordan Burch
- Alfred Collins
- Ajani Cornelius
- Ty Hamilton
- Jordan Hancock
- Gunnar Helm
Some analysts remain skeptical about Skattebo’s NFL potential. Mel Kiper, ESPN’s top NFL Draft analyst, has ranked the Sun Devils star as the eighth-best running back in the 2025 class. Among the players ranked ahead of him are Quinshon Judkins, Omarion Hampton, and Dylan Sampson. If NFL teams align with Kiper’s assessment, Skattebo’s decision to skip the Senior Bowl—a key opportunity to boost his draft stock—could prove to be a mistake.
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