Arkansas' Raheim Sanders: Huggies NIL deal special 'because I have a little one'

NASHVILLE – Arkansas running back Raheim Sanders announced an NIL partnership with Huggies in February. For each pack of diapers or wipes purchased at Sam’s Club during the month, Huggies said it would donate a day’s worth of diapers to the National Diaper Bank Network.

At SEC Football Media Days, Sanders explained how a local diaper partnership led to the one with Huggies, in part because of a media interview. The partnerships have a personal meaning for Sanders, who’s the father of a young son.

“It grew big,” Sanders said. “With them, I didn’t even care about the money just to show that I’m willing to do that and it meant [something] different just because I have a little one.”

Sanders earned first-team All-SEC honors last season from the Associated Press and USA Today. He rushed for 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns while adding 271 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.

Sanders explained how the Huggies partnership materialized.

“That actually started off with a little diaper company in Fayetteville,” he said. “And they blessed me with the Huggies deal because I did a little interview. But it was a blessing because I can show people and tell people that you can do deals that can affect a lot of women that are pregnant.”

Sanders said being a father has helped him become a better leader.

“Just being a dad – definitely a (first-time) dad – you learn things,” Sanders said. “And just giving back to others in a way that teaches them some things that I learned as a dad.”

Raheim Sanders on ONEArkansas NIL: ‘They get us right’

Sanders credited ONEArkansas NIL, the collective that supports Arkansas, for its NIL deal facilitation and the charitable opportunities it provides.

“They get us right, not even just with deals but giving back to the community,” he said.

Sanders described a particular interest in helping support individuals who are homeless.

“That’s a big thing,” he said. “That’s always [to] remind me where I came from. A lot of guys don’t get the opportunity to be in college or get to finish high school.”

Sanders said he has improved at networking with Arkansas fans. He said he’ll ask about their profession or their community involvement.

“One thing I got better on is communication,” Sanders said. “So when it comes down to seeing people and meeting people and they’re big Razorback fans or whatnot, I ask them what they do and what they give back to the community, and how can I do that myself? That helps me big time because I can give words back to my brothers in the locker room.”