Cam Skattebo is now playing the main role that Arizona State had in mind for him before the running back had to prove his versatility last season by playing quarterback, starting receiver and even punting for the Sun Devils.
In the Big 12, their new league that set a national record with six returning 1,000-yard rushers and signed two more through the transfer portal, Skattebo is the early rushing leader after a stellar performance.
“That looked like a Sunday player,” coach Kenny Dillingham said after Skattebo rushed for 262 yards on 33 carries and had a team-high three catches for 35 yards in the Sun Devils’ win over Mississippi State, earning AP National Player of the Week honors.
The Big 12 is off to another lightning start, with six of the best Division I players averaging at least 100 yards in their first two games. That group is led by Skattebo (155.5 yards per game) and includes Arizona’s Quali Conley (101 yards per game), who came to Arizona from San Jose State with new Wildcats coach Brent Brennan, even though none of those league newcomers had a 1,000-yard season under their belt.
“I’ve been following this young man a lot,” Brennan said. “It’s really exciting to see the confidence that Quali plays with.”
Big 12 players RJ Harvey of UCF, DJ Giddens of No. 14 Kansas State and Devin Neal of Kansas, who have already rushed for 1,000 yards, have all rushed for over 100 yards in both games this season. Harvey’s six rushing touchdowns lead all Power Four players. Cincinnati’s Corey Kiner is averaging exactly 100 yards per game after rushing for 149 yards on 20 carries after a 51-yard opener against Pittsburgh.
Noticeably missing from this list are the Big 12’s two best runners from last season: AP All-American, reigning Doak Walker Award winner and 2023 national runner champion Ollie Gordon II of 13th-ranked Oklahoma State and injured fifth-year Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks.
After rushing for 126 yards and three touchdowns in the season opener against defending FCS champion South Dakota State, Gordon was limited to 49 yards on 17 carries against Arkansas, with his only score being the game-winning touchdown before adding the 2-point conversion in the second overtime. He has a league-leading 45 rushing attempts, but averages just 3.9 yards per carry — down from 6.1 last season — and ranks seventh in the league with 87.5 yards per game.
“Not getting going early isn’t really good,” Gordon said. “But when you have teammates like I do, it’s great for the team, so you’re good.”
Gordon got off to an even slower start as a sophomore last season, managing just 109 rushing yards in the Cowboys’ three nonconference games. In the Cowboys’ nine regular season Big 12 games, he averaged 163 rushing yards per game and finished the season with 1,732 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns.
Brooks missed last week’s game at Washington State with an arm injury after rushing for 153 yards in Tech’s opening game. Coach Joey McGuire indicated he could return Saturday against North Texas if there are no setbacks in practice.
The Big 12 finished with eight 1,000-yard runners last year, while the Sun Belt had six. The MAC tied with the ACC and SEC with five each.
All five MAC players are still playing, but three have moved on to other leagues. This includes Peny Boone, who is transferring from Toledo to UCF, where he and Harvey are part of a backfield for the best rushing offense in Division I (419 yards per game).
Only one of the five players the SEC had last year is still in action: Quinshon Judkins went from Ole Miss to Ohio State in the Big Ten, where Rutgers’ Kyle Monangai was the only returning 1,000-yard runner. Marcus Carroll went from Georgia State in the Sun Belt to Missouri.
Skattebo transferred to Arizona State from Sacramento State, where in his only Pac-12 season last year he rushed for 793 yards and nine touchdowns, received 286 yards and a touchdown and completed 6 of 15 passes for 130 yards with a TD and an interception in 50 snaps at quarterback. He also averaged 42.3 yards on eight punts.
His 262 rushing yards against Mississippi State were his second-most rushing yards ever for the Sun Devils. He rushed for 93 yards in the fourth quarter and his longest run was 39 yards on his final drive.
“I always expect to have it in my backpack, but it doesn’t happen every week, and this week it did,” Skattebo said. “I’m glad I did it. I’m glad these guys trust me to do it.”
