Rocket Sanders passes 1,000 yards, serves notices as the SEC’s best running back
By Keith Farner
Published:
Rocket Sanders got off to a slow start, but thanks to a big run in the second half, the Arkansas running back passed 1,000 yards and served notice that he’s the SEC’s best running back.
Sanders had a 76-yard run which helped him churn out 171 rushing yards on 16 carries as Arkansas toppled Auburn 41-20. That 1,000-yard mark put him in elite company as Darren McFadden did it in 9 games, while Sanders just finished his 8th game.
Sanders overcame that slow start that saw him rush for just 9 carries for 46 yards in the first quarter, and 1 carry for 7 yards in the second quarter.
Sanders came into Saturday already leading the SEC with 870 rushing yards, outpacing Ole Miss’ Quinshon Judkins, who had 829 ahead of his game at Texas A&M.
Rocket Sanders 76 yard run! #Arkansas pic.twitter.com/rBuDfUyrxZ
— ?????? @???????? (@FTBeard7) October 29, 2022
Rocket Sanders has broken 1,000 rush yards in only 8 games.
Darren McFadden did it in 9.
— Brandon Baker (@BBakerHogs) October 29, 2022
Sam Pittman said Sanders delivers on and off the field.
“He’s a very serious kid, very serious,” Pittman said on Wednesday. “He’s got a workman-like daily routine for him. If you ask academic folks, he’s always the first one in there and gets his work done. If you ask anyone in the building… he’s always on time, always giving maximum effort, that’s just who he is.
“Where he has come around more is his personality. He’s talking more, not overly confident and certainly not close to cocky, but he feels good about what he’s doing and he should. He has come a long way there.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
