NFL Analysis
10/28/24
3 min read
Raheim Sanders 2025 NFL Draft: Scouting Report For South Carolina Gamecocks RB
Height: 6000 (unofficial)
Weight: 230 (unofficial)
Year: Senior
Pro Comparison: Brian Robinson Jr.
Scouting Overview
Raheim Sanders is an imposing presence at the running back position. He’s a massive player for the position, and he matches that frame with an angry running style. Nicknamed “Rocket,” Sanders earned the moniker thanks to his explosive open-field speed when he was healthy.
He’s a capable home run hitter, which shined best in 2022 as a sophomore at Arkansas. It does feel like there’s room for Sanders to further maximize these qualities with how he handles his press to the line of scrimmage; if he can hit holes with more decisiveness moving forward, he could be a more consistent producer and earn a bigger workload.
However, he is a skill-specific player and will need complementary teammates around him to build out a complete and comprehensive running game in the NFL.
2025 NFL Combine Results
TBD
Positives
- Tremendous frame and physicality in head-up-tackle situations create challenges for second- and third-level defenders
- Straight-line and open-field speed offer home-run hitting possibilities
- Creativity in the hole allows him to set up defenders for a missed challenge and added yardage after contact
Negatives
- High pads and running style expose his body to significant contact on hits
- Passing game impact has dwindled during the past several seasons, likely relegating him to a rotational/committee role
- Lateral agility and ability to redirect off of his initial tracks are modest
Background
Raheim “Rocket” Sanders played his high school football for Rockledge HS in Rockledge, FL. He found success on the track and the hardwood in addition to his football prowess; he was a three-sport standout for Rockledge. Sanders played both as an offensive weapon and linebacker, earning himself a 4-star recruiting ranking (247 Sports). He originally enrolled at Arkansas out of high school — choosing the Razorbacks out of the 30+ programs that offered him.
At Arkansas, Sanders was named to the 2021 SEC All-Freshman team while tallying more than five yards per carry and more than 700 all-purpose yards. He assumed the starting role ahead of his sophomore season in 2022 and exploded to the tune of more than 1,700 yards from scrimmage and First-Team All-SEC honors, which helped him to be named a 2023 preseason All-American. But the 2023 season was derailed due to injuries — Sanders played in just six games on the season after a knee injury suffered in the season opener.
He entered the transfer portal in January, underwent shoulder surgery, and enjoyed a rebound season for the Gamecocks in his final season of eligibility.
Tale of The Tape
Sanders has the makings of a really nice piece of an NFL running back room. He’s big, explosive, and offers flashes of raw power. The value of an NFL running back is often weighed by the kinds of yards he can create for himself or the little things he can do away from the football. Thanks to his burst and stature, Sanders does not have a problem with self-earned yardage. Whether he defeats angles or physically falls forward, Sanders does bring value here.
However, the consistency of the production is different. Sanders has seen his offensive line play fall off since his monster 2022 sophomore season — yards before contact have been much harder to come by, and holes are muddier and less available as a result. The result for Sanders is less consistency and more of a boom-or-bust nature to some of his carries.
At times, Sanders appears to be guilty of searching for space, and his lack of firm decisiveness allows defenders to disengage based on his track and box him in. Sanders has the size, burst, and contact balance to drop the hammer and run through contact. He’s shown the ability to do so, too — including on a touchdown run in the low red zone against Kentucky in 2024. Still, there’s room for more of that in his game, and if he embraces that, his floor as a runner will rise.
Sanders isn’t a plodder. He’s light on his feet, but he is a long strider, which poses some challenges when he needs to suddenly work off the tracks. He can stop suddenly and is capable of a hard jump cut to vacate a gap, but high-congestion areas make it more difficult for him to pick his way through multiple angles.
As such, he does have more of a one-cut or slashing style as a runner, and offensive lines (or run schemes) that can afford him less work and more runway behind the line of scrimmage will get the most out of him.
Sanders has flashed some ability as a passing down back, but he generally lacks appeal as a quick-twitch athlete in short spaces to run routes and create separation underneath. He has the hands to be called upon to run check-downs, and his after-contact ability with burst in space could be useful in the screen game.
However, Sanders’ true value in the passing game comes from his potential and ability to protect his quarterback. He has a great build for stonewalling linebackers and shows an appetite for playing into contact.
One additional note for Sanders — in his one season as a high-volume ball carrier, he did illustrate some issues with ball security. He lost three fumbles in 2022 on 250 touches.
Ideal Scheme Fit, Role
Sanders is ideally a rotational piece of an NFL running back room. He’s got the home run-hitting ability and stature to warrant opportunities to win different roles, from a between-the-tackles runner to a pass protector.
He’d be best served to play in a gap-heavy scheme that tasks him with hitting designated holes and attempting to get vertical into the second level with momentum.
Grade: 71.00/100.00, Fifth Round Value
Big Board Rank: TBD
Position Rank: TBD
Make sure to check out our new home for all of our NFL Draft content.
