The college football transfer portal carousel is going full throttle now, with Arkansas running back Raheim "Rocket" Sanders expected to commit to South Carolina.
BREAKING: Arkansas RB transfer Rocket Sanders is expected to commit to South Carolina, @PeteNakos_ confirms?https://t.co/Kv9nKdYELO pic.twitter.com/4U5pQdCX8g
— On3 (@On3sports) December 13, 2023
Right now, Sanders is considered one of the best running backs in the country and now, for what could be his final college football season in 2024, he'll be playing under Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks.
Sanders had injury issues in 2023, appearing in just six games. In those games, Sanders had 62 carries, 209 yards, and two touchdowns. However, in 2022, Sanders had 224 carries for 1,466 yards, and 10 touchdowns.
Coming out of Rockledge High School in Florida, Sanders was a four-star recruit and the No. 315 overall prospect in the 2021 recruiting cycle, per On3.
In 2024, Sanders won't face his former team as the Gamecocks and Razorbacks aren't slated to face another other than an SEC Championship matchup.
The Gamecocks have seen Jared Brown, a wide receiver from Coastal Carlina.
Since December 4, the Gamecocks have seen the following players enter the portal:
- K Mitch Jeter
- QB Colten Gauthier
- WR Kylic Horton
- DL Xzavier McLeod
- OL JonDarius Morgan
- CB Isaiah Norris
- WR Juice Wells
- EDGE Donovan Westmoreland
- S Kajuan Banks
- DL Felix Hixon
- WR Landon Samson
- QB Tanner Bailey
- WR O'Mega Blake
- DL D'Andre Martin
- OL Grayson Mains
- RB Mario Anderson
Of course, with Anderson leaving, so to does his 142 attempts for 712 yards, and three touchdowns in production from this past season.
As always, fans took to X to discuss the move.
SC has had a lot of trouble running the ball the past few yrs (despite talent at rb).
Hopefully they get that fixed because this guy can go.
— SHREDDER (@SHREDDER_365) December 13, 2023
"SC has had a lot of trouble running the ball the past few yrs (despite talent at rb). Hopefully they get that fixed because this guy can go," one user wrote.
Out of all the places he is very talented and hell of a running back and went from one crappy school to another I wish he would have went to another school that would utilize him properly like Alabama or Oregon or even Michigan somewhere that has a offensive line
— Dustin Thompson (@DustinT22317022) December 13, 2023
"Out of all the places he is very talented and hell of a running back and went from one crappy school to another I wish he would have went to another school that would utilize him properly like Alabama or Oregon or even Michigan somewhere that has a offensive line," another user wrote.
Now, we look to 2024 to see how the addition of Sanders helps the Gamecocks.
