Jordan Raanan
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — It was a Friday afternoon. The New York Giants had been winless after two weeks and coach Brian Daboll was in the midst of his regular Friday information convention earlier than his group performed its residence opener in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
A reporter was asking Daboll a query when rookie working again Cam Skattebo, soccer's model of the Tasmanian Satan, walked behind the media pack. Skattebo stopped, smiled and gave a sarcastic sidearmed wave to Daboll behind the row of cameras.
Daboll closed his eyes, smirked and shook his head. He had misplaced his practice of thought.
“Sorry, Skattebo,” Daboll mentioned as if this sort of humorous interplay was a standard incidence. “Are you able to repeat [that question], please.”
There is not any one fairly like Cam Skattebo 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Lu3CHjYx0T
— New York Giants (@Giants) September 19, 2025
At that time, all anybody on the Quest Diagnostic Coaching Heart might hear was Skattebo's trademark name.
“Wooooooooooooooo!” the rookie shrieked as he ran onto the sphere.
That is Cam Skattebo, the energetic and distinctive Giants fourth-round decide who by no means appears to speak with an inside voice and used to run into phone poles as a younger baby. He sprints onto the sphere with the passion of a 10-year-old given carte blanche in a sweet retailer.
This was his routine as he got here onto the sphere at coaching camp. It has prolonged into the common season.
“It is a each day factor,” Daboll mentioned as this all unfolded a number of weeks again.
Skattebo nonetheless wasn't carried out.
“Wooooooooooooooo!” he yelled once more moments later.
“Let's f—ing go!” he added.
That is the type of energy Skattebo brings to the group, each within the constructing and on the sphere.
Skattebo and rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart have added a brand new ingredient to the Giants, who enter Thursday evening's matchup with the rival Philadelphia Eagles (8:15 p.m. ET, Fox) off a tricky loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. After Skattebo and his new quarterback had sturdy video games in Dart's first begin, an upset win over the Los Angeles Chargers, this previous week was a actuality test. Dart had three turnovers, and Skattebo's fumble within the purple zone was returned for a landing within the 26-14 loss to the Saints.
However these are the gamers the Giants are relying on to steer them ahead offensively. Dart was a first-round pick of Ole Miss. Skattebo was a Heisman Trophy finalist who has proved doubters fallacious all over the place from highschool in Northern California to Sacramento State to Arizona State earlier than falling to the fourth spherical. Their youthful exuberance offers the group a special really feel.
“[Skattebo's] like that just about on a regular basis,” Daboll mentioned after the information convention interruption.
It is who Skattebo is as a participant and teammate. It is evident from the tales advised by his teammates and oldsters:
Becky Skattebo, mother:
“Cam has at all times been ready to determine the right way to stand up, over and thru issues. He would get out of each automotive seat yow will discover. That is how he ended up with the ‘Houdini' nickname as a result of if he did not need to be someplace, he was getting out of the scenario he was in. … He would put his brother's shoulder pads on and he would run into phone poles. As soon as he acquired onto the sphere, it was no shock the punishment he inflicted on his own body and everybody else.”
Leo Skattebo, dad
“So that you guys solely see the soccer a part of it. He isn't like that in his private life. He's very quiet, [has a] very quiet demeanor in his private life with us. However then something that comes with competitiveness like video video games or basketball or soccer, that is when the depth comes out. It is like a change that he activates as a result of if he isn't taking part in one thing or doing one thing, he is probably the most laid-back child there may be. I've by no means requested him, however it's simply sort of bizarre. He goes between the traces and he activates some type of competitiveness after which his vitality simply adjustments.
“When he was little, he wasn't a lot of an outgoing character with the group as a result of he was at all times the very best participant. So he did not want to fireplace the children up. The children simply sort of gravitated towards him they usually simply sort of fed off of him after which relied on him. I believe the outgoingness began perhaps at ASU as a result of I do not assume he was loopy at [Sacramento] State both. I believe ASU when he acquired with [coach Kenny] Dillingham and that atmosphere sort of opened up his character extra, I believe inside the locker room after which observe.”
“He was simply at all times robust. So when he was youthful, he would get in bother lots by referees and stuff as a result of he would hit too onerous. You get flags as a result of, oh, he should have carried out one thing fallacious as a result of the opposite child's laying on his again. His character has at all times been the kind of person who he'll inflict all of his vitality on any person. And it has been like that from day one. He is by no means shied away from that in any respect.”
QB Jaxson Dart, shut buddy and fellow rookie:
“Skatt's any person who it does not matter the place he's or who he's round. He simply acts himself. I believe that's one thing early on folks strive to determine when you do not actually know a man. However when you determine that it is real, you determine what sort of buddy he's, what sort of teammate he's. He'll do something it takes to win. That's one thing that guys actually rally round. He is a spark.
“The primary [time we met] we mentioned three phrases to one another and simply head-butted one another. That was sort of like the beginning of our relationship. After we first acquired right here to the [Giants] facility and met one another for the primary time. We had been in a position to spend extra time on the aircraft to the [NFLPA] rookie premiere they usually put us proper subsequent to every. Clearly we're nonetheless attending to know one another. I fell asleep on the aircraft and I get up to this dude wet-willying me and making an attempt to place meals on my face whereas I am sleeping. That's sort of an correct illustration. It is 100% [who he is].”
QB Jameis Winston:
“When he acquired drafted, he despatched me an image of him consuming a ‘W' [Winston's signature bit] and mentioned, ‘Let's go!!!' The very day he acquired drafted. I used to be like, ‘Man, I like you.' He is superb. And I at all times admired him at Arizona State. Simply seeing this, he ate at Arizona State. I knew he was wild.”
WR/KR Gunner Olszewski:
“He blurts out something. You do not know, typically it is proper, typically it is fallacious. However it's at all times loud. That is just about [in] any assembly we've got. He will say one thing. He is studying, although. He is superior. He is as real as they arrive. He is genuinely an fool. [Reserved] shouldn't be in his wheelhouse. He does not know the place he is at. Most rookies after they first get into the league are like, ‘Oh my god, it is the NFL.' For him it is simply one other day taking part in soccer.”
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr.:
“Everybody tells me, bro, get your rook. I am like, ‘Bro, what you need me to do? Inform him to be quiet?' He is at all times yelling. He is very loud. We'll be in conferences and Skatt asks a query — simply yells it out. He is likely to be fallacious, however he'll yell it out and everybody appears to be like at me. I am like, ‘Bro, what y'all need me to do?' It is nothing loopy. Similar to, he is at all times yelling. Whether or not it is yelling out stuff within the assembly room or simply screaming when he goes out to observe or one thing. He is simply very loud. I believe if you happen to paid him to be quiet for a day, he could not do it. That is what I believe.”
RB Dante Miller:
“I've by no means seen [some]one chew seeds louder. He eats loud. He does every thing loud. It is quiet [in the meeting room] and he is munching on seeds and I am like, this isn't regular.
“What's a loopy cartoon character? That is a really, superb comparability. Just like the Tasmanian Satan. I like that. However he chews his seeds very loud.”
TE Daniel Bellinger:
“Zero filter. First time at a particular groups assembly he asks, what's our job? Our job is to play with velocity, get off the ball. And this animal simply goes ‘Physicality!' And it simply made no sense. [He] simply yells issues out. No filter in any respect. Whether or not it is proper or fallacious, he'll simply yell it out. That is Skatt for you. I imply I've had some characters. I really feel like [Sterling Shepard] was sort of wild. A few of these guys, Ihmir [Smith-Marsette] is a little bit bit wild. However this man's one among a sort. No filter.
“The primary time I met him we're within the sauna after which we go into the ice tub and we're sitting there within the ice tub and this man, proper once we get in, simply begins yelling. He is like, ‘Ahhhhhhhh! I am like, ‘Are you OK?' This man's a little bit completely different. And I've by no means met some other teammate fairly like him.”
WR Jalin Hyatt:
“We're taking a look at [his big block in the opener] and we're positively making an attempt to show him to maintain his head up, so he does not get fined or something. However it's onerous to do with him. He is a working again, you realize what I imply? He sees anybody, he needs to run by way of them. So it is onerous to inform a working again to maintain their head up. We're making an attempt. It would take a while.”
LB Bobby Okereke, defensive captain
“I like it. As a younger participant, that's the way you construct a terrific roster. You may have veteran management and presence and younger vitality. He positively brings it. He is breaking down the huddle. He is hooting and hollering and getting guys energized. And from a physicality standpoint, he brings it.”
