It’s a spring day that ends in “y,” which means the New York Giants are hosting a 30 visit with another running back.
It’s important to note that these visits aren’t necessarily indications of interest. This is the last time teams can gather information on prospects that they have athletic, medical, or off-field questions about, so a visit can take a player off one’s board as much as it might move them up.
Still, a trend like this – six running backs of a similar archetype – is hard to ignore and seems to signal a plan of action for the middle rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.
On Friday, the Giants hosted a pre-draft visit with Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo, per Dan Duggan.
Skattebo was a riser up most boards after a 2024 season that saw him lead the Big 12 in attempts (273) and yards (1,711). In the College Football Playoffs, he was at his best, rushing for 143 yards, tacking on 99 through the air while touching the ball a ludicrous 38 times.
That endurance and physicality define Skattebo’s game and make him a target for New York. He’s far from the fastest (4.65-second 40-yard dash). He isn’t even the biggest, at 5-9, 219. But Skattebo is dense and uses his compact frame to bounce off defenders and turn himself into the turf version of a bowling ball.
Skattebo lacks long speed, limiting his big-play ability. Yet, his short-area explosiveness and ability to accelerate off of broken tackles render him dangerous enough in the open field.
Ultimately, Skattebo would be an acceptable (and natural) complement to Tyrone Tracy, who stood out in Year 1 but isn’t the most well-rounded back. With easy paths to effectiveness in the red zone and short-yardage situations, he can spell Tracy frequently and stay on the field for passing downs, offering more as a pass protector without sacrificing a ton as a receiver (particularly close to the line of scrimmage).
He joins Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins, Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II, North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, and Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson as powerful running backs brought in for visits. At the team’s local pro day, Rutgers’ Kyle Monangai also showcased his talents.
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