Pokes’ D Shifting Focus to Arizona State’s Versatile Running Back

LARAMIE -- How do the Cowboys plan to slow down Cam Skattebo?

Two words: Wrap up.

That's much easier said than done.

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Arizona State's senior running back forced 57 missed tackles on 164 attempts last fall. That was third among all FBS ball carriers. That's been a staple of his game from the very beginning. He now has 150 career whiffs under his belt.

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Those numbers -- and visuals -- aren't lost on Wyoming's coaching staff.

"I think Cameron Skattebo is a great running back," rookie head coach Jay Sawvel responded Thursday when asked if there's a specific area the Sun Devils excel on offense. "I think we ought to concentrate there first and foremost, because that guy's really good."

Brian Hendricks saw the same thing on film.

"He's a heavy load," Wyoming's defensive ends coach added. "If you think when you're in pursuit, if you think your partner's going to make the play and you let up, you better watch out, because there's multiple, multiple examples of him breaking multiple tackles within one play. I believe 65% of his yardage comes after contact."

Arm tackles won't get the job done. Not much does.

Skattebo has been stopped for no gain or a loss on just 8.9 percent of his career carries, dating back to his last two collegiate seasons at Sacramento State. That's the third-lowest mark of any active back in the nation. He will also set up camp behind a veteran offensive line that averages 316 pounds across the board.

The Rio Linda, Calif., product isn't a one-trick pony, either. He's one of the most-versatile players in the FBS.

Skattebo snagged 24 passes out of the backfield for an offensively challenged ASU squad in 2023. He turned those catches into 286 yards and a touchdown. He also attempted 15 passes, connecting on six. One of those was a 25-yard scoring strike to Elijhah Badger in the third quarter of a 17-7 victory over UCLA inside the Rose Bowl. He took 50 snaps under center.

That's not all.

Need a punter? Skattebo is your man.

He averaged 42.3 yards on eight punts last season. One of those went for 53. He also returned kicks and lined up at tight end and wide receiver.

"It's not just him running the rock, but they used him quite a bit in the pass game," Hendricks said. "They put him out in space on defenders that all of a sudden he exposed. Next thing you know, he's in the back of the end zone.

"So, we've got to do an excellent job as a defense, wrapping up and pursuit, because he is really impressive. He runs really well. He's a tough blue-collar kid."

Wyoming shifted its focus to its opening-day opponent on Thursday. Skattebo was a mainstay on the big screen.

After receiving little fanfare out of high school, Skattebo signed with Sac State, just 11-plus miles from his hometown. There, he rushed for 520 yards on just 57 attempts as a freshman. That's more than nine yards per carry.

It didn't take long for the 5-foot-11, 215-pound bruiser to become the team's feature back. He followed up that first-year performance with 1,743 yards from scrimmage, including 1,372 on the ground. He also found the end zone 10 times, earning Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Still, he only reportedly received offers from San Jose State and Texas State

Skattebo eventually inked with ASU, replacing former Wyoming running back Xazavian Valladay in Tempe last season, rushing for 783 yards and nine touchdowns. He was a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, given to the nation's most-multifaceted player.

While injuries plagued the Sun Devils' roster and the losses mounted, Skattebo remained a consistent threat, breaking the 100-yard mark three times. He nearly hit the century mark in receiving yards in a loss at Cal, too. That included a 66-yard touchdown grab.

"You always know if a football team is ready to play if they tackle good," Cowboys' safety Wyett Ekeler said. "So, we have got to tackle very well against them, because he'll be a motivator for that offense. We have got to keep him contained."

"He's definitely a hard runner," Wyoming middle linebacker Shae Suiaunoa added. "I've seen on film, there's people that, when they try to tackle him, they don't run their feet. They just kind of dive and hope that he gets down. Coach (Aaron) Bohl has told us a lot about him. Like, if you try to just swipe with this guy and you don't run your feet, he'll run through you. So, he's definitely a good running back. But at the same time, we've got good running backs here that we've gone against."

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The Cowboys return eight starters on a defense that allowed just 144.5 yards per game last fall on the ground. That was good enough for 49th in the country in that category.

That unit allowed just four individual backs to eclipse the 100-yard mark on the ground. Two of those guys -- Nate Noel (Appalachian State) and Jacory Croskey-Merritt (New Mexico) -- are now at the Autonomous-4 level, at Missouri and Arizona, respectively. Texas tailback Jonathan Brooks was a second-round draft pick, landing in Carolina. Zac Larrier, Air Force's former signal caller, also gashed Wyoming to the tune of 111 yards on 20 carries.

The Cowboys were 2-2 in those meetings.

"I think we'll be ready for it," Suiaunoa said, referring to Skattebo.

Wyoming and Arizona State are scheduled to meet Aug. 31 inside Mountain America Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 8:30 p.m. Mountain Time and the game will be televised on FS1.

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