Cam Skattebo thought he blew his chance with the Giants before the draft.
The Arizona State product revealed that he didn’t make the best first impression when meeting with the franchise in an appearance on the “St. Brown Podcast.”
“I never thought it was going to be New York cause I was actually late to the first meeting ever, on my 30 visit,” Skattebo said. “I was five minutes late to the bus pickup. I thought I was cooked there.”
Skattebo told Equanimeous and Amon-Ra St. Brown that he expected the 49ers to take him with the 100th pick before falling to the Giants five slots later.
“Getting the call on draft night, it’s like, ‘Hey, you’re going to be a New York Giant,’” Skattebo said. “I’m like, ‘holy cow.’”
The running back vowed to never make the same mistake again.
“After I was drafted and they FaceTimed me, I told them I’ll never be late again,” Skattebo said.
Skattebo entered Giants rookie camp with that same type of motivation.
“How many snaps of the NFL have you seen me play?’’ Skattebo said when asked about how he maintains his work ethic. “Zero, right? I’ve proved nothing. I’ve proved what I am in college, but I’ve proved nothing at this level.
“So now where I’m at, I have to prove myself, and if that’s for five years or if that’s for 10 years, I’m going to continue to prove myself. I’m the best, do it for the longest, so continue to do that and just work my butt off until time comes.’’
Skattebo broke out for the Sun Devils in 2024, going for a school-record 1,711 yards on the ground and scoring 21 touchdowns.
He’s trying to bring that same type of play to East Rutherford.
“Physical, downhill, get-to-the-end-zone back,’’ Skattebo said of his playing style after being drafted by the Giants. “I love to score touchdowns. That’s what I do.’’