Arizona State workhorse Cam Skattebo named AP Player of the Week

PHOENIX (AP/AZFamily) — The Associated Press national player of the week in football for Week 2 has been named: Cam Skattebo, Arizona State running back.

The Sun Devils’ fourth-year running back rushed for a career-high 262 yards and finished with 297 all-purpose yards in a 30-23 win over Mississippi State.

Skattebo’s 33 carries are the FBS single-game high so far this season. His final run was his longest, going for 39 yards to the Mississippi State 12 and allowing the Sun Devils to run out the clock.

He averaged 7.9 yards per carry while amassing the second-highest rushing total in program history behind Eno Benjamin’s 312 yards against Oregon State in 2018. His 12 runs of at least 10 yards, all against Mississippi State, lead the nation.

Skattebo, a native of Rio Linda, California, who transferred from Sacramento State for the 2023 season, also caught three passes for a team-high 35 yards.

Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo, center front, runs the ball against Mississippi State... — Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo, center front, runs the ball against Mississippi State in the first half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)(Rick Scuteri | AP)

Runner-up

Xavier Scott, Illinois. The third-year defensive back from Riviera Beach, Florida, had his fingerprints all over the Illini’s 23-17 win over then-No. 19 Kansas.

He was in on three takeaways, including an interception return for a touchdown, and he recorded a sack and finished with a team-leading eight solo tackles.

His interception on Kansas’ first series set up a field goal, and his 30-yard pick-6 put the Illini up 13-10 late in the first half. With the Jayhawks at the Illinois 46, Scott knocked the ball loose from Jalen Daniels and teammate Alec Bryant recovered to end the game.

Honorable mention

Northern Illinois DT Cade Haberman blocked a 48-yard field-goal attempt to end the first half and a 62-yarder at the end of the game to preserve the 16-14 upset of then-No. 5 Notre Dame; Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty ran for 192 yards and three touchdowns in 27-24 loss to then-No. 7 Oregon. Syracuse QB Kyle McCord passed for 381 yards and four touchdowns as the Orange held on to beat then-No. 23 Georgia Tech 31-28.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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