(Photo via Rebecca Striffler/WCSN)
Spring camp has sprung for Arizona State football and the it is the chance for players’ off-season body transformations to be tested. One player with a notably different physique was senior running back Cam Skattebo, who showed up Tuesday morning noticeably leaner, dropping 13-14 pounds.
While initially, some may think the new lighter frame was a direct result of winter conditioning, in reality, that wasn’t the case. There was a more inadvertent reason, with the results being something the Sacramento, California native welcomed and chose to maintain.
“I had pneumonia about a month and a half ago,” Skattebo said. “ever since then I lost a ton of body fat and took advantage of it and worked back in the right way instead of working back in the wrong way.”
Working back “the right way” meant a change in diet to keep the lost weight off and stay slimmer. The completely healthy diet may still be a work in progress for him but the effort was the catalyst for the body change.
“I’m big on junk food. I eat a lot of sugar I still eat sugar now because this is who I am,” the running back said. “But I definitely cut back a lot on that stuff. So it’s been helping.”
Skattebo said that he is entering camp playing at around 211 pounds whereas he played at about 224 pounds last season. The loss of weight will naturally raise questions about the changing of playstyle for the back known for his power running but he believes strength may not have left and speed has only been added.
“I still have the power for sure,” the former Sacramento State transfer said. “Obviously, it’s not all there with 14 pounds missing but it’s the muscle that I didn’t lose which is the good part. So there’s still power there but hopefully a little bit more finesse too this year.
In his first season for the Sun Devils, Skattebo did a little of everything. He was effective at the traditional responsibilities of a running back rushing 164 times for 788 yards and nine touchdowns and catching 24 passes for another 286 yards and a touchdown.
However, his contributions went beyond the traditional. He also completed 6 of 15 passing attempts for 130 yards and a touchdown and even punted the ball eight times for 338 yards downing three inside the 20 yard-line.
Skattebo was a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, given to the nation’s most versatile player. Now with a quicker frame, he’s added even more variety to his usability on the field.
“His ability to be an all-down back, his ability to be part of the passing game, the run game, and the screen game in this offense is really important,” New offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo said. “I think the way that we manipulate the structure of the offense and move guys around so much the multiplicity that a guy (like Skattebo) can have only adds to the damage (That can be done to opposing defenses).”
Arroyo’s offense was seen launching receivers, tight ends, and running backs alike into motion pre-snap during live sessions. Unconventional movements were common with the singular goal of confusing the opposing defense, with Skattebo flying around the field as the proverbial swiss army knife of Arroyo’s attack. While praising his running back’s increased versatility Arroyo still recognized the potential need for the extra weight that was lost and that balance has to be found.
“Durability of backs important if you can carry weight you want to carry weight,” Arroyo said. “There’s got to be a fine balance at the back. Being able to handle that durability is important, being able to be a breakaway guy and have some conditioning with that is awesome.”
Regardless of how much he weighs the former Hornung award finalist doesn’t believe he’s lost any usage or variety of danger, he can add to his new offensive coordinator’s system.
“I think the main thing is me being able to do more things in the offense,” Skattebo said. “It’s more ‘Oh, last year I couldn’t do this, but now I can do it this year.’”
Going forward, the senior won’t look to bulk back up to his heavier around 224-pound frame. A new speedier and comfortable version of one of ASU’s most versatile weapons in 2023, will be attacking Big 12 defenses from anywhere and everywhere around the field.
“I plan to stay here (At the lighter weight),” Skattebo said, “I feel good.”
