Alex Huntley raves over Rocket Sanders, impact he's had on South Carolina offense

Over the offseason, the South Carolina Gamecocks acquired a game-breaking offensive weapon in former Arkansas Razorbacks running back Rocket Sanders. Sanders will look to be a huge contributor to the Gamecocks’ success in 2024, but so far this offseason, he has been a huge contributor to the team’s morale and energy, according to defensive lineman Alex Huntley.

Recently, Huntley addressed the media, where he covered a wide array of topics. Among those was the impact the new South Carolina star has had on the offense and the team in general.

“Yeah, that’s a dude who came in the building [on] day one; you can see how much it means to him. His care factor is huge, and all he does is work,” said Huntley at SEC Football Media Days. “And I think it’s great for a lot of guys to see a guy who came in with [an] already big name, already [has] stats to his name, but he still didn’t miss a beat in workouts; he grinds. So, I love having him on the team. I’m glad he came.”

Sanders does join South Carolina with a bit of notoriety. Sanders is a former First-Team All-SEC player who, in his last full season, rushed for 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022. Last year was an injury-riddled season for Sanders, as he only appeared in six games for the Razorbacks.

If Sanders’ impact on the field can match the impact he’s already had on the Gamecocks roster, South Carolina fans could very well see their team competing for a spot at the top of the SEC in 2024.

Huntley confident that South Carolina will bounce back in 2024

South Carolina did not have the 2023 season anyone inside the program wanted. Shane Beamer made great progress the year prior but did not respond well, finishing with a 5-7 record. Three of those wins occurred down the stretch, but losing the in-state rivalry to Clemson ended a chance of making a bowl game.

Now, those same people are confident South Carolina can bounce back nicely this fall. Huntley is undoubtedly one of them, having a ton of belief in the Gamecocks. There is nothing other than winning on their minds, according to Huntley.

“We all came back with a real big chip on our shoulder, ready to work, ready to do what we got to do to win,” Huntley said. “That’s the only thing on our minds right now is win.”

Huntley then explained his confidence level, specifically on the defensive end. He likes the additions South Carolina made this season, bringing in instant-impact players. A quarterback battle may be taking place on the other side, but Huntley feels like he is now surrounded by some playmakers on defense.

“We have a lot of guys come in who made an immediate impact on our team and defense,” Huntley said Monday at SEC Media Days. “That’s something that obviously helps you in every aspect.”