Sam Pittman admits Rocket Sanders was not 100% vs. Texas A&M

Arkansas RB Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders had been unavailable for the Razorback’s last three games heading into last weekend with a knee injury. From what Sam Pittman has since said following the ‘Hog’s loss against Texas A&M on Saturday, he wasn’t fully ready against the Aggies either.

Pittman updated Sanders’ health during his press conference on Monday. The fact of the matter is that, based on the film, he said it was clear that his top back wasn’t at his best even though it was a positive for their team to see him back out on the field.

“I don’t think he was 100%. It’d be hard for me to think he’d be out for three games and then be able to come in there and just (play well),” said Pittman. “I do think he brought a spark to the team as far as being back and all those types of things. But I think, if you watch the game, I don’t think that you’d think he was at 100%.”

“(He’s) still got a little fluid there. But he’ll obviously be better this week than he was last week,” Pittman said. “He went out there and played hard and all those things.”

Sanders was able to rush 15 times for 42 yards and two touchdowns against Western Carolina in the opener. However, the knee injury he suffered in that game held him out against Kent State, BYU, and LSU.

Then, in his return in Dallas a few days ago, Sanders rushed for 34 yards on 11 carries. He also caught a pair of passes for 36 yards.

Sanders was a Preseason All-SEC selection for a reason. It’s just going to take him time to get up to speed with a month of the season now gone. Pittman has every expectation that he will too and make a step toward being the player that they know him to be as early as this weekend against No. 16 Ole Miss.

“I don’t think he’s the old Rocket yet. I think he certainly will get there,” Pittman said.

Pittman shares positive update on John Morgan

John Morgan was stretchered off the field against Texas A&M after suffering a neck injury. Having a couple of days to recover after the terrifying incident, Sam Pittman provided a surprisingly positive update on Morgan’s condition.

“John, I talked to him Saturday night when we got back. He was in great spirits,” Pittman said during his weekly presser on Monday. “He had another test this afternoon that I haven’t heard the results of that yet. Or is having one (Monday) afternoon. He hasn’t had the test, so how could you get the results? But he’s in great spirits. Honestly, I think he got hit (in the jaw), like a punch. But I would think that he would have an opportunity to play this week.”

Before they loaded Morgan into the ambulance, the SEC Network’s Alyssa Lang revealed that Morgan was talking and was able to move. Arkansas AD Hunter Yurachek told Lang that he was dealing with tenderness and pain in the neck.

Through four games this season before entering Saturday’s game against Texas A&M, Morgan totaled four tackles and 2.0 sacks.