TEMPE — For NFL scouts who inquire about Cam Skattebo, Kenny Dillingham has five words.
On Tuesday, the ASU coach stated, “You want to draft him.”
With that being as solid a cause as any, Dillingham has been an ardent supporter of his former all-around running back.
Dillingham remarked, “He is a nightmare if you’re a team that depends on matchups — he really seeks out matchups.” Due to the fact that he can be positioned as a running back, slot receiver, No. 1 receiver, wildcat quarterback, and on short-yardage downs, he can be used in a variety of ways.
“Like he can do so many things for you that his versatility is such a weapon and he’s so intelligent that he can do it all.”
He said NFL personnel who don’t end up drafting him will then run into a “Dang, I have to play him” reaction when the matchup against Skattebo comes around.
Why Dillingham says Skattebo’s 40-yard dash time is irrelevant
Skattebo ran his 40-yard dash at a closed-door pro day in ASU’s covered practice field on Thursday, reportedly clocking 4.65 on the timer.
Draft analysts expect him to be picked early on Day 3 of the draft in what’s considered a very deep class at the position.
“He ran a time that’s what everybody thought he was going to run, so I think people should judge him off his tape,” Dillingham said.
Is the Texas tape, where Skattebo had 284 total yards of offense and three touchdowns against a defense littered with future NFL players, all they need to watch?
“No, I just tell them to watch every single play,” Dillingham said in response. “Dude plays with such a passion, such an aggressiveness, such great contact balance. His short area quickness is elite. His vertical jump shows his power he has, which is why he has the contact balance.
“It’s not like, ‘Oh, does he really have the contact balance?'” when everything checks up. Everything that demonstrates his athleticism has been verified.
Being ranked the best back in the class in three crucial categories by PFF shows that his well-rounded game may still lead to success, even though he may not have the straight-line athleticism that many people desire in a running back.
