Top 20 countdown: No. 2 - Raheim Sanders

HawgBeat's top-20 countdown series previews 20 players who are expected to have the biggest impact for Arkansas football in 2023. The series will provide details on each player's measurables, their 2022 season, an outlook for 2023 and HawgBeat's take.

Checking in at No. 2 is junior running back Raheim Sanders.

RAHEIM SANDERS

Position: Running back

Year: Junior

Height, Weight: 6-foot-2, 242 pounds

PFF Grade in 2022: 83.4

Snaps played in 2022: 581

2022 SUMMARY

A native of Rockledge, Florida, Sanders earned Freshman All-SEC honors after a stellar freshman season that saw him run for 578 yards and five touchdowns in 13 games.

During the 2022 season, the former four-star prospect ran for 1,443 yards (second-best in the SEC) and 10 touchdowns off 222 attempts. He also recorded 28 catches for 271 yards and two touchdowns through the air.

Sanders had five games of 100-plus yards and one 200-plus yard game. Against Alabama, the 6-foot-2 workhorse ran for 101 yards and one touchdown on 22 attempts. In the week 11 matchup versus Ole Miss, Sanders collected 232 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 24 attempts.

He finished the season with an offense grade of 83.4, run grade of 87.4 and receiving grade of 59.2 according to Pro Football Focus.

2023 OUTLOOK

We are officially on Heisman watch in our top-20 countdown list. Is it likely? Probably not, but Sanders possesses the raw ability and surrounding pieces to set him up for a record-breaking 2023 season.

If Sanders can stay healthy, he will be given every opportunity under offensive coordinator Dan Enos to be one of the top running backs in the nation.

Fans should expect Sanders to break the 1,000 yard mark again and showcase why he's worthy of wearing the No. 5 jersey made famous by Darren McFadden.

HAWGBEAT'S VIEW

Sanders is the third running back on this list along with Rashod Dubinion and AJ Green, who both tied for the No. 17 spot in our top-20 countdown.

Selected to the Preseason All-SEC First Team by the media, Sanders will be looked at to set the tone on first-down and break through for huge yardage-gains throughout games.

For Arkansas to have the success it's striving for, Sanders has to be ready to put the team on his back and punch in touchdowns during the 2023 season.