Top-30 visits for the 2025 pre-draft process are no longer taking place, but we are seeing some lingering reports about what teams some draft prospects visited. On Monday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the Detroit Lions had a late visit with a eye-opening prospect: Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo.
The Lions have arguably the best running back duo in the NFL with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, and second-year man Sione Vaki could push for more offensive touches. But they have shown some interest in running backs during the pre-draft process. Montgomery is approaching his 28th birthday, and while he was signed to a two-year contact extension last fall the Lions have a palatable out after the 2025 season.
Skattebo transferred to Arizona State in 2023 after starting his college career at Sacramento State. He was a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award (given to the most versatile player in the country) that first year in Tempe, as he rushed for 783 yards (4.8 yards per carry), topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage, punted the ball eight times (42.3 yards per punt) and also had 15 pass attempts.
Skattebo followed with a full-on breakout last season. He finished second in the FBS with 1,711 rushing yards, with 21 touchdowns, while adding 45 receptions for 605 yards and three more touchdowns. The Sun Devils lost to Texas in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff, but Skattebo put himself on the map with huge game (30 carries for 143 yards and two touchdowns, eight catches for 99 yards)
Cam Skattebo is basically the running back version of Dan Campbell
Skattebo's running style is almost scarily similar to Montgomery's, so he would easily be eyed as a future replacement "Thunder" to Gibbs' "Lightning" in the Lions' backfield.
Erik Schlitt of Pride of Detroit has done a cool exercise called the "Grit Index", going position-by-position to highlight draft prospects who best fit the Lions' "GRIT" mentality.
If Dan Campbell could create his ideal running back, that running back would probably be a lot like Skattebo. So it's no surprise, among running backs in the 2025 draft, Skattebo was No. 1 in Schlitt's "Grit Index."
Skattebo is widely projected to be a third-round pick. It's unlikely he falls all the way to the Lions at pick No. 102 to end that round, but if he falls that far....