As the football season kicks back into gear, many rookies are given the chance to prove themselves as stars in the National Football League (NFL). These rookies often have high expectations due to their strong performances in college and the position they were drafted to play before the season. Cam Skattebo, a physically aggressive running back standing at 5’11 and weighing 215 pounds, was drafted as the 105th pick in the fourth round by the New York Giants. He had a promising final year in college at Arizona State University (ASU), rushing for a total of 1711 yards on 293 attempts. In his final college game in the Peach Bowl against Texas, Skattebo scored two rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown, allowing ASU to force the game to overtime, where they eventually lost 39-31. Sophomore superfan Nate Gregory said, “When I think of Cam Skattebo, I think of greatness in the making. I remember watching him as he played college football at ASU and thinking to myself if his physical style would actually succeed in the NFL.” Cam Skattebo had a shaky first appearance in the NFL, making his career debut against the Commanders in a 6-21 loss, where he was only given the ball twice. Although this game could have been seen as a setback, it does not reflect his abilities, as the entire Giants’ offense was completely shut down. Skattebo would bounce back in week two, rushing for 45 yards on 11 carries and rushing for his first NFL touchdown in their overtime loss to the Cowboys. This game also distinguished Skattebo as the clear Rb1 in New York, as he was far more efficient than running backs Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devon Singletary. In the Giants’ week 3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Skattebo had his best performance yet. He ran for a total of 60 yards and a touchdown on six attempts, while also receiving six passes for 61 yards. In this game, Skattebo led the Giants’ offense in both rushing and receiving, dignifying himself as the powerhouse of their offense. In week 4, Skattebo was joined by rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart in their first win of the season against the undefeated Los Angeles Chargers. Skattebo would see by far the most touches of his career in this game, rushing for 79 yards on 25 attempts. Jaxson Dart also had a promising debut, passing for 111 yards and a touchdown, rushing for another touchdown, and throwing no interceptions. The rookie duo hopes to continue the season with an increasing number of wins in an attempt to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2022 season, and define themselves as some of the best rookies in the NFL.
