New York Giants fans Cam hardly believe their good fortune.
Cam Skattebo has emerged as a fan favorite for a team and fan base desperate to be relevant, not to mention an early front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
With a flair for physical play, backflips and shaking his helmet, the running back’s star has steadily risen since he has become an integral part of the Giants offense.
His timing couldn’t be better for the franchise, either, as Big Blue has struggled since winning the 2012 Super Bowl. In fact, the team has won only one playoff game since then (in just two postseason appearances) and is coming off a disastrous 3-14 season, with an offense that has consistently had trouble putting the ball in the end zone.
Coupled with quarterback Jaxson Dart, the team’s first-round draft pick in April, Skattebo, 23, is the core of a squad that is looking to grow.
The Giants took a huge step in that direction Oct. 9, when they blasted their NFC East rivals and defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, 34-17, ending a streak of eight straight losses to division opponents that dated back to January 2024. Skattebo ran for 98 yards and three touchdowns in the win, giving him a team-leading five TDs on the season. He also had two catches for 12 yards.
While he’s emerged on the scene among NFL fans, Skattebo had already proven before he got to the Giants that he was a prime-time player. Read on to find out more about him.
How Did Cam Skattebo End Up on the Giants?
Skattebo was the team’s fourth-round draft pick, the 105th player taken overall, in April’s NFL draft.
Skattebo, along with Dart, has provided a spark for the Giants, who began the season 1-3. They are now 2-4 with the win over the Eagles.
While Skattebo has shown he is a bulldog on the field, he has not been immune to growing pains, including a tough showing on the road against the New Orleans Saints where he had a key fumble that was returned for a touchdown in the Saints win.
“Sorry giants fans!!! I’ll be better for yall!!!! Love!!!” Skattebo later wrote on X.
Where Did Cam Skattebo Go to College?
Skattebo, who is from Rio Linda, California, played two seasons at Sacramento State in 2021 and 2022. He later transferred to Arizona State, where he starred in 2023 and 2024, finishing fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting last season.
He also led Arizona State to the College Football Playoff last season after winning the Big 12 championship. He raised more eyebrows with a sensational performance when the Sun Devils lost their playoff game in the Peach Bowl to the University of Texas, running for 143 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also caught eight passes for 99 yards and threw a 42-yard touchdown pass.
Why Does Cam Skattebo Shake His Head?
Aside from his hard-nosed, bulldoze style of running, Skattebo is also known for shaking his head. There’s good reason for it, though.
“My helmet used to stick to my face when my sweat would dry up,” he said in a TikTok video shared by PHNX Sports in 2024. “And I think over this last year, it’s (become) just such a constant thing. Now I feel like it’s more of an OCD thing, the fact that my helmet has to fit perfect. If I see my face mask off just a half inch, I notice it.”
“It’s not a tick. It’s not Tourette’s,” he added. “It’s none of that. I think it’s something that shows that I’m focused and locked in.”