Rocket Sanders is still healing a nagging shoulder injury, but the Arkansas transfer is confident he can help South Carolina’s disappointing running game.

The Gamecocks were last in the SEC in rushing in 2023 at 85 yards per game. Sanders had an injury-laden 2023 season, as he missed 6 games because of knee and shoulder injuries. His best game came against Florida with 103 rushing yards along with 2 catches for 14 yards.

Sanders said the first step is to get back to the weight he feels best at to succeed in the SEC. He was listed at 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds last season at Arkansas.

“If I achieve our team goals, my goals are going to come as well,” he said.

Sanders described himself as a running back, and said his versatility and ability to catch out of the backfield sets him apart.

“I feel like that plays a big part of the running back game nowadays at this level, and the next level as well,” Sanders said. “I feel like pass game, and another thing is pass pro as well, blocking.”

Sanders added that South Carolina’s new running backs coach, Marquel Blackwell, is familiar with Sanders’ game because he was at Texas A&M and Ole Miss the previous 2 years, and they had games against Arkansas.