As if Sanders Isn't Scary Enough for SEC Teams, Enos Has Him Adding Huge Weapons

Arkansas coordinator has fun at running back's expense after going full season without really catching any passes despite being in an explosive offense

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Jul 19, 2023 7:00 PM EDT

In this story:

Arkansas Razorbacks

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It's not often that a running back who had the kind of season Raheim "Rocket" Sanders posted at Arkansas last season comes into what will likely be his final year as a college athlete looking to learn.

Sanders ran for 1,443 yards rushing and another 271 yards in the air. He had five games of 156 or more yards, including 232 yards against Ole Miss. In three games, he averaged 10 yards per carry or more.

Despite the success, the opportunity to learn and grow is the theme that carried throughout the SEC media day with Sanders, and one that will follow him through the season, all of which will give him more upside when the NFL draft rolls around. Whether it be learning to be patient in in the running game by allowing the play to develop, how to speak well when dealing with the media, or how to be an effective receiver out of the backfield, this entire season is a concerted effort by Sanders to learn how to be the best NFL prospect he can become.

"The interviews," Sanders said about what he's excited about the most as he made his way through the media carwash. "Get better at talking. Just learning. Just ready to talk."

Of course, it always helps to have a partner for this sort of thing. As expected, the name as synonymous with Sanders as Batman and Robin are to each other is KJ Jefferson. The quarterback is not only on hand to go through the grind of SEC media day, but is also grinding with him in the more studious areas of the football facilities as both prepare to make themselves better by learning offensive coordinator Dan Enos' pro style offense.

"A lot of learning with the new offensive coordinator," Sanders said. "[KJ Jefferson] makes me comfortable, the offensive coordinator and him as well. I just feel more comfortable this year just talking to him and learning new things and always going in for questions. He's always there for me."

There's a need to spend so much time studying film and playbooks because Enos prefers to involve running backs heavily in the passing game, something Sanders hasn't be asked to do very often. Despite having nearly 300 yards receiving, most of those came on glorified hand-offs, literally inches away from Jefferson.

"Before [Enos] came I had to look into him and search about him," Sanders said. "He uses everybody on the field. Learning the pass pro I feel like is going to help me out. He is the type of guy that wants the running back to get out, and he's the type of guy that wants KJ to hit the check downs as well.

Of course, the best way to make Sanders feel comfortable with something new is to make him uncomfortable. And making the Arkansas running back feel uncomfortable about his receiving skills is no small feat considering he played wide receiver in addition to running back and linebacker in high school. Remember, Enos is saying this to a young man who once had six catches for 165 yards against Bayside High, yet it's still getting to him.

"The first conversation [Enos] was like 'Can you catch the ball?'" Sanders said. "He always plays around and be like 'You can't catch the ball" or what not. 'Are you just a running back or can you catch the ball too?"

It's all just having a bit of fun for now, but Sanders is serious about becoming a strong contributor to the passing game. He doesn't want to miss a chance to learn how to be a bigger weapon, nor an opportunity to respond to doubters.

"That's the goal to prove [Enos] wrong," Sanders said. "I love when somebody come in and tell me something I can't do. I've got something to prove for him."