The Arkansas Razorbacks should be a lot of fun in 2023. That fun boils down to the fact that Raheim Sanders and KJ Jefferson share the same backfield. If the Monstars were in college football, they’d be those two individuals. There is not a more physically imposing backfield in the nation. But what does Sanders’ NFL Draft profile look like, given the position he plays?
Raheim Sanders Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’2″
- Weight: 242 pounds
- Position: Running Back
- School: Arkansas
- Current Year: Junior
“Rocket” Sanders was a four-star recruit from the state of Florida. Listed at 6’2″, 210 pounds, the wide receiver and linebacker transitioned full-time into a running back in college. He was the seventh-ranked athlete and the 19th-ranked player in Florida when he committed to Arkansas.
Sanders had offers from Cincinnati, Charlotte, Boston College, and Auburn but ended up choosing Arkansas. Over the course of three offseasons, he has gone from a listed 210 pounds to a whopping 242!
Sanders’ 6.5 yards per carry is the best mark since Felix Jones in 2007. His 1,443-yard season ranked 13th nationally and was fourth-most in Razorback history. The team roster bio claims he can bench press 365 pounds and squat 515, which shouldn’t be incredibly surprising considering… well… look at him.
Raheim Sanders Scouting Report
Strengths
- Natural hands catcher out of the backfield
- Absolutely massive frame imposes will against smaller defenders
- Unique running style makes it tricky for defenders to time up
- Impressive agility relative to his size
- Outstanding contact balance and lower body drive upon contact
- Patient but decisive in the hole
Weaknesses
- Not nimble enough to string together multiple moves
- Although a WR in high school, he won’t be relied upon aligned in the slot or out wide
- Too often has a thirst for violence, taking unnecessary punishment
Current Draft Projection and Summary
Sanders is currently one of the hottest names to watch at the RB position in college football. Aside from his production, the bruising back has shown the ability to take and deliver punishment without accumulating injuries.
However, the injury bug popped up in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Kansas, and Sanders only carried the ball three times before missing the rest of the action.
MORE: Top RBs in the 2024 NFL Draft
The threat Jefferson provides on the ground will keep Sanders relatively efficient no matter what. Jefferson’s presence adds an extra gap to defend, and Sanders’ ability to emphatically say “no” to the first defender trying to tackle him will, more often than not, keep them from negative runs.
With the current landscape of running backs in the NFL, it’s not completely out of the question that Sanders could command first-round capital. A team still featuring a single back would love to have him. But at the end of the day, like Derrick Henry before him, Sanders must prove he can continually be a big-play threat. Because in the NFL, explosives are king.
NFL Draft Scouting Reports
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