Sanders Looks to Restart Start-Stop Season for Razorbacks

Star running back potentially returning gives another wrinkle to new offense

Author:
Daniel Shi
Publish date:
Nov 1, 2023 6:14 PM EDT

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — With new personnel ready to call the plays, Arkansas also may get a much-needed personnel boost on the field. Raheim "Rocket" Sanders is questionable for Saturday's game in his home state. The Rockledge, Fla. native has spent two separate stints, missing a total of five games on the sideline after making a brief cameo in two games against Texas A&M and Ole Miss, totaling just 19 carries for 49 yards.

Sanders has been sidelined for much of the season with a knee injury that he suffered in the opening week against Western Carolina. Coach Sam Pittman still needs to see more from the third-year back before letting him get back to game action.

"I feel really good about him being able to play," Pittman said. "Just another couple of days of consistency. Today is a big third-down day for us. How is he going to protect and things of that nature? Just the whole week, of what the whole Monday through Thursday encompasses, but the first two days, I feel confident that he will be able to go out there and help us."

Sanders or not, Pittman also hopes that the changes that have been made under new offensive coordinator Kenny Guiton will spring a rushing attack that was seventh in the nation in total yards the previous two seasons back to life. The Razorbacks currently rank 126th out of 133 FBS teams with 2.93 yards per rushing attempt this season.

"I thought we were a little slow (and) hesitant," Pittman said. "I thought everything was, but I thought we were as well on the quarterback exchange from the running back, so the holes that we’ve been opening up, they’ve closed pretty fast for us. We’ve got to get there faster. They’ve adjusted that."

The Razorbacks look to take advantage of a Florida defense that ranks 85th in the nation in yards per carry allowed (4.34). The game kicks off in Gainsville Fla. 11 a.m. Saturday Nov. 4. It will be broadcast on ESPN2 and FuboTV .