Widely regarded as a top prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft, Ashton Jeanty, has already expressed his excitement about the possibility of moving to Dallas, which is what many mock drafts forecast. Travis Hunter once remarked, “I mean y’all see Ashton Jeanty. It’s not like we haven’t seen a running back that’s good.” But for those who doubted Jeanty’s ability, his performance as a Heisman finalist this year is a huge slap in the face. However, the Heisman finalist seemed to give voice to a bold claim this time.

Caroline Fenton spoke with Jeanty, the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, on a recent Yahoo Sports video. Fenton disclosed Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo’s bold claim during the conversation. She said, “Cam Skattebo, another running back who had a massive season for Arizona State, another team that was also in the college football playoff. He said that he thinks he was the best running back in college football this past season.” Later, she wanted to know about Jeanty’s opinion on the matter.

Notably, Ashton Jeanty of the Broncos didn’t hesitate to challenge such a daring assertion, and he responded honestly. He said, “I was watching it. I think very highly of them. And that’s you know that’ll never change. I mean, he’s put it on tape. But, all I have to say is, you to turn on the film. You watch it. I ain’t gonna say too much. I don’t got to speak on it. But you turn on that film and you tell me who’s the best one.” It just means Jeanty is confident enough in his numbers. And why not?

At an average of 7.0 yards per carry, Jeanty led the NCAA FBS with 2,601 running yards and 29 rushing TDs. His performance in 2024 cemented his place among the top running backs in the country. He received multiple important awards for his exceptional performance, including the Doak Walker Award, the Maxwell Award, and unanimous All-American recognition.

He did not, however, downplay Cam Skattebo’s skill. In the same video, Jeanty stated, “I think he’s a tremendously talented player. He’s done amazing things. College football playoffs went crazy.”

Ashton Jeanty’s endorsement of another player sounds natural, but is Cam legitimately a standout player?

What’s behind Ashton Jeanty’s praise for ASU RB?

Cam Skattebo, a rushing back for ASU, established himself as a dynamic and adaptable running back with an incredible 2024 CFB season performance. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry while accumulating 1,711 rushing yards and 21TDs on 293 carries during his final season with the ASU. Skattebo showed off his flexibility by contributing substantially in the receiving game, hauling in 45 passes for 605 yards and 3 scores.

Among the honors he received for his outstanding effort was the title of Most Outstanding Player of the 2024 Big 12 Title Game. Despite ASU’s close loss to Texas, Skattebo’s incredible season came to a head with a spectacular conclusion as he was selected the Peach Bowl’s Offensive MVP. He scored 42 throwing yards, 99 receiving yards, and 143 rushing yards, accounting for 56% of his team’s overall offense.

Now, Ashton Jeanty’s praise of Cam makes perfect sense. However, compared to Jeanty’s statistics, Skattebo’s audacious claim appears less convincing. Let’s now see what these two running backs will provide to their respective teams in 2025.