Rocket Sanders offers an update on his health: 'I actually feel great'

Raheim Sanders’ final season at Arkansas did not go as planned due to injury with another then limiting his spring after transferring to South Carolina. However, as he goes into the fall, he’s back where he wants to be in regards to his health.

Rocket Sanders addressed his status during a media availability on Wednesday. He said that he’s feeling good with him currently not limited at all through this point of practice in Columbia.

“Nah, I actually feel great. You know, I’m not limited in no way, you know what I mean. Ready to go really,” said Sanders. “What, going on our third day today? Fourth I think, fourth practice. Feeling good, you know. Pads on, you know, throwing my shoulder in these as well.”

Sanders joins the Gamecocks after a three-year career as a Razorback. While in Fayetteville, he rushed 398 times for 2,230 yards, good for 5.6 per carry and 69.7 game, and 17 touchdowns. He also caught 49 passes for 455 yards and three additional scores.

2023 did not go as planned for Sanders, though, due to a knee injury he suffered in the opener for the ‘Hogs. He’d go on to appear in just six games where he ran for just 209 yards and a pair of scores on 62 carries.

Sanders would enter his name into the transfer portal following that junior year. He did so as the No. 6 RB and No. 43 overall player in On3’s 2024 Transfer Portal Top Players. He’d then commit to play for South Carolina about a week later after taking a visit there.

Still, a shoulder injury then further slowed his arrival with the Gamecocks as he missed spring practice with his new program.

Now, after a summer of rehabbing, Sanders is back on the field for the South Carolina offense. The goal from here is to keep getting back to himself ahead of his first season there.

“I actually feel great,” said Sanders.

Blackwell speaks to Rocket Sanders’ progression

Rocket Sanders is getting closer to donning the garnet and black for the first time.

It’s been a long process for Sanders. By staying back in Columbia and continuing to work this summer, though, he looks to be on track to make a return for the season opener.

“I think he’s just focused on just getting there. He has committed himself,” RBC Marquel Blackwell told GamecockCentral. “Obviously, we have had a great group of people that has committed themselves to him but he has committed himself to being ready to go. I think right now from then to now he is just ready to get going and see the work that he has put in.”

“The guy was the first guy in the building, the last one to pretty much leave the building. He was there on weekends,” Blackwell said. “That’s attribute to him being a pro and being an example for everybody else in the world, and showing his commitment to what he’s really trying to do.”

A big part of returning to his old form has been slimming down some. Sanders is down to 228 pounds with Shane Beamer saying Sanders has lost six percent of his body fat. Blackwell has noticed this as well.

“Obviously, he has been getting himself in a weight where he dominated at when he was in his rare form,” Blackwell said. “I’m really excited about him. I’ve been on the other sideline and saw him play on two different occasions. But just looking forward to getting him back to where he is. He’s about there and just want to make sure we get him there to the first game.”