NFL Draft Notebook: Could Cam Skattebo’s physical style land him on the Ravens?

As the college football season heads into championship week, NFL Draft buzz begins to heat up, and we’re back with another Monday edition of NFL Draft Notebook. This week, our focus shifts to Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo, who stands out as the most physical running back in the 2025 NFL Draft class and a potential fit for the Baltimore Ravens. Along with an in-depth look at Skattebo, we rank the top five draft prospect performances from Week 14 of college football and dive into the latest NFL Draft news and notes, including a couple of sleeper linebackers to watch.

Cam Skattebo: A dual-threat powerhouse

One of the most inspiring stories in college football this year has been Arizona State’s unexpected rise. Picked to finish last in the Big 12, the Sun Devils defied expectations and will now face Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship Game. A driving force behind their success has been running back Cam Skattebo, who has established himself as the most physical back in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Skattebo’s punishing running style mirrors that of Lions’ running back David Montgomery. Like Montgomery, Skattebo thrives on contact, using exceptional lower-body strength to power through defenders. This season, Skattebo has rushed for 1,398 yards and caused 78 missed tackles. Beyond his ground-game dominance, Skattebo is a dual-threat weapon, becoming the only college back this year to surpass 1,000 rushing yards and 350 receiving yards. His versatility as a pass-catcher, enhances his value, similar to how Montgomery contributes in Detroit's passing game.

"You know, that Cam Skattebo guy, that’s got to be my favorite player in college football. This guy, he’s rugged, tough. I mean, I just love a great competitor. He’s all that."

- Nick Saban

At 215 pounds, Skattebo is built to succeed in the NFL. He has caused 225 missed tackles in his college career, largely thanks to his ability to win one-on-one matchups against tacklers. His power makes him an ideal short-yardage back, as he’s been stopped for no gain or a loss on just 10.7% of his career carries—ranking among the top five backs in the FBS. Skattebo also showcases impressive agility for his size, giving him the ability to run through or around defenders. Off the field, his strong work ethic and leadership make him a culture-setting player for any locker room.

However, Skattebo’s bruising style has its drawbacks. His lack of home-run speed limits his breakaway ability; just 16 of his runs this season went for over 15 yards, translating to a 30% breakaway percentage per Pro Football Focus. Ball security is another concern, as he’s fumbled four times this season.

A team that could maximize Skattebo’s skill set is the Baltimore Ravens. Pairing him with Derrick Henry would allow Baltimore to keep their downhill rushing attack fresh. Given their eight Day Three picks, the Ravens could easily target Skattebo in the later rounds and secure a player who fits perfectly into their physical identity.

Top five performances from week 14

1. Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

Travis Hunter once again proved why he’s the top prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft with a dominant showing against Oklahoma State on Friday. On offense, he hauled in 10 catches for 116 yards and three touchdowns, including a highlight-reel score where he made a tough adjustment in tight coverage. Defensively, he was just as impactful, snagging an interception and breaking up two passes. Calling this kid "different" doesn’t even do him justice.

2. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Another strong Heisman contender this year is Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, who delivered a monster performance on Friday. Jeanty racked up 226 rushing yards on 37 carries, including one touchdown. This latest outing brings his season total to an astounding 2,228 rushing yards, putting him within striking distance of Barry Sanders' single-season rushing record of 2,628 yards. With at least two games left in the season, Jeanty has a real shot at making history.

3. Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse

On Saturday, Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord delivered a statement performance, showing Ohio State may have made a mistake moving on from him after last season. McCord, one of the most fundamentally sound quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft class, shined against Miami, outplaying Hurricanes star Cam Ward, a projected top-ten pick in the same draft. McCord threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns, leading Syracuse to an incredible 42-38 victory after overcoming a 21-point deficit—the largest comeback in school history.

4. Donovan Ezeiruaku, DE, Boston College

The most dominant defensive player of the week was Boston College edge defender Donovan Ezeiruaku, who delivered an incredible performance against Pittsburgh with 10 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks. This effort ties him with Harold Landry, the school’s all-time leader in single-season sacks. Landry, who has surpassed five sacks in every NFL season except his rookie year and earned a 2021 Pro Bowl nod, set a high bar that Ezeiruaku is now chasing. What sets Ezeiruaku apart as a promising day-two NFL Draft prospect is his explosive burst off the ball and impressive agility, allowing him to consistently beat offensive linemen around the edge.

5. Jayden McDonald, MLB, UConn 

UConn linebacker Jayden McDonald might not hear his name called during the NFL Draft, but his performance this season has made him a strong candidate to be signed as an undrafted free agent. McDonald has amassed 119 tackles and earned an impressive 87.1 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus. His standout moment came this past week against UMass, where he recorded a career-high 20 tackles, adding to his remarkable streak of posting at least 12 tackles in each of his past three games.

NFL Draft news and notes

Sanders again proves why he is QB No.1: The debate over the top quarterback prospect between Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders continues, but Sanders made a strong case on Friday as the top signal-caller on NFL Draft Notebook’s board. He put on a clinic, completing 83% of his passes for 438 yards and five touchdowns. According to Blair Quarterback Academy, Sanders' standout trait is his elite accuracy—consistently hitting receivers in stride and threading the ball into tight windows. However, a recurring issue surfaced again in this game: holding onto the ball too long. This led to six sacks, highlighting an area for improvement in his otherwise stellar performance.

Underrated prospect: Oregon linebacker Jeffrey Bassa is one of the most overlooked players in the 2025 NFL Draft. While most draft analysts project him as a Day 3 pick, NFL Draft Notebook assigns him a second-round grade. Bassa, who recently accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl, excels due to his athletic background as a former safety. His fluid movement and loose hips make him a standout in coverage, particularly in zone schemes where his awareness is exceptional. He also impresses against the run, playing downhill with a physical style and rarely missing tackles. However, one area for growth is his ability to shed blocks, a challenge partly due to his lighter frame compared to traditional Mike linebackers.

Game of the week: Friday night delivered an unforgettable showdown between Georgia and Georgia Tech. Trailing 27-13 with just 3:42 left in regulation, the Bulldogs staged an incredible comeback to force overtime. What followed was an epic battle that stretched into an SEC-record eight overtimes. A standout performance came from Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, who threw for 297 yards and five touchdowns. Beck's stats now include 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions over his last three games—a stark contrast to his earlier struggles, which featured 12 interceptions in his first nine games, including three games with three picks. If Beck maintains this high level of play in the SEC Championship and the College Football Playoff, he has a strong chance to reclaim his first-round draft projection.

Michigan’s MVP: Michigan pulled off the biggest upset in the history of their rivalry with Ohio State on Saturday, overcoming 21-point underdog odds. A key factor in their stunning victory was the clutch performance of the ever-reliable Dominic Zvada. Zvada not only nailed the game-winning field goal but also drilled a 54-yarder earlier in the game. Despite being snubbed as a Lou Groza Award finalist last week, Zvada has proven himself elite, connecting on all seven of his field goal attempts from beyond 50 yards, with a long of 56 yards. He boasts a remarkable 94% success rate on kicks this season, including a perfect 14-for-14 on attempts over 30 yards. Though only a junior, if Zvada declares for the 2025 NFL Draft, he has a strong chance of being one of the first kickers selected.

Day three running back: Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks has quietly put together an impressive career for the Red Raiders, leading the team in rushing for four consecutive seasons. This year, he’s been unstoppable, surpassing 100 rushing yards in every game. On Saturday, Brooks delivered a career-best performance, rushing for 188 yards and three touchdowns against West Virginia—his second consecutive game with three scores. As a pro prospect, Brooks is a powerful 230-pound runner who combines physicality with surprising elusiveness, making him a strong candidate for selection on Day Three of the NFL Draft.

Simon is also being overlooked: Another linebacker who is being overlooked is Cody Simon of Ohio State. While this is the first time Simon has been a full time starter for the Buckeye’s he is having a spectacular season having picked up stats and earning these grades from Pro Football Focus. When scouting Simon several traits standout that make people think he could be a day two selection. One of these is his impressive football IQ that rarely sees him out of positon, this intelligence also shows off the field as well as he is a four-time OSU Scholar-Athlete and a three-time Academic all-Big Ten honoree.  In addition to his high football IQ he is also shows great range as a linebacker displaying the ability to play sideline to sideline against the run, and the quickness and agility to matchup against tight ends or running backs in coverage.

Sleeper of the Week: This week’s sleeper is Memphis running back Mario Anderson Jr., who has been dominant with 1,292 rushing yards this season, including five games of 138+ yards in his last six outings. A true dual-threat, Anderson has also caught 46 passes out of the backfield. His game is defined by outstanding contact balance, allowing him to break tackles with ease, as shown by his 48 forced missed tackles. While he lacks elite top-end speed, Anderson’s quickness and vision help him create explosive plays, evidenced by 40 runs of 10+ yards this season. Projected as a Day 3 NFL Draft pick, Anderson’s toughness and versatility make him a candidate to impress during training camp and carve out a role at the next level.

Hurkett shines: The Hawkeyes' victory over Nebraska on Friday night, despite managing just five first downs, was largely thanks to defensive end Ethan Hurkett. Hurkett delivered a standout performance, racking up nine tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, and a forced fumble. Notably, this marks the second straight game in which he’s recorded two sacks. His consistent impact could draw the attention of NFL teams as a late Day 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.