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South Carolina All-SEC running back Rocket Sanders signs NFL deal

by:Kevin Miller•04/26/25•

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South Carolina RB Rocket Sanders delivers a stiffarm against Wofford (C.J. Driggers/GamecockCentral).
South Carolina RB Rocket Sanders delivers a stiffarm against Wofford (C.J. Driggers/GamecockCentral).

After going undrafted through seven rounds, South Carolina running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders is NFL bound. The two-time All-SEC performer told GamecockCentral’s Mike Uva that he has signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent.

Following a transfer from Arkansas ahead of the 2024 season, Sanders had a great final year with the Gamecocks. He earned all-conference honors after logging just under 1200 yards of offense and 13 touchdowns. At USC, he also won the co-Steve Spurrier Offensive MVP award and the team’s Overcoming Adversity Award while being an obvious pick as college football’s Comeback Player of the Year.

Sanders also delivered one of the biggest moments of the season, taking a shovel pass from quarterback LaNorris Sellers and breaking through half of the defense in the closing seconds of the Mayor’s Cup battle against Missouri for what became the game-winning score. The subsequent celebration in Williams-Brice Stadium registered earthquake-like numbers on seismographs.

Sanders earned his spot among the ranks of NFL draftees behind a strong senior season and an impressive NFL Combine. The 6-0, 217-pound ballcarrier ran a strong 4.46 in the 40-yard dash. However, he logged the fastest top speed (23.55 miles per hour) among any running back at the event.

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Sanders also is the sixth South Carolina football standout taken in the 2025 NFL Draft. He joins former teammates Nick Emmanwori, TJ Sanders, Demetrius Knight, Kyle Kennard, and O’Donnell Fortune as players taken so far.

Some of Sanders’ accomplishments at South Carolina include:

*2024 College Football Comeback Player of the Year Award
*2024 First-Team Academic All-America
*2024 Second-Team All-SEC (Coaches, AP, Phil Steele, College Football Nation)
*2024 co-Steve Spurrier MVP Offense
*2024 Overcoming Adversity Award
*2024 Nutrition Award
*2024 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll

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