4. Raheim Sanders
Sanders' rise came completely out of the blue. Not because he lacked any athletic abilities but because he had only played running back for a year before he blew up.
Originally, Rocket was recruited to play wide receiver, but the lack of depth in the running back room allowed him to broaden His skills.
In 2021, Sanders shared his time in the backfield with three other backs but held his own in a position he never played at a high level. But because of some opportunities due to injuries in the running back room, Rocket got his big break.
Sanders' rushed for 1,443 yards, averaging 6.5 yards per carry. He scored ten touchdowns on the ground and added another 271 yards through the air and two touchdowns. Sanders had seven games over 100 yards, including five over 150. His performance against Ole Miss was incredible. In that game alone, he rushed for 232 yards, caught five passes for 29 yards, and scored three touchdowns.
Unfortunately, a knee injury sidelined him for the majority of the season in 2023. After that season, he decided to make changes and entered the transfer portal. He left because he felt there was a better opportunity, but he also wanted to be closer to his son in Florida. Rocket committed to South Carolina, which is a much shorter drive than Fayetteville.