Former Rockledge Star Raheim Sanders Signs with Los Angeles Chargers as Undrafted Free Agent

Raheim Sanders becomes the most recent player of Brevard County to join an NFL roster

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Raheim Sanders was a key player for the Rockledge Raiders football team in 2019 and 2020, playing both offense and defense.

His play on the field earned him scholarships from top programs around the country, and he eventually played at SEC schools, including the University of Arkansas and the University of South Carolina.

Sanders has always been a “do-it-all” type of athlete, and his unique size and ability helped him flourish on the football field.

His versatility of running and catching made him a great addition to whatever school he decided to attend. After a great couple of seasons with the Raiders, Sanders would sign with the University of Arkansas as a running back.

Joining a “run-first” team was perfect for Sanders, who got an opportunity as a true freshman to make an impact.

With over 700 all-purpose yards in his first season, Sanders earned All-SEC freshman honors. Arkansas saw the potential in Sanders, knowing they had a great runner in their hands, and gave the keys to Sanders for his sophomore season the following fall.

As a sophomore, Sanders not only put the SEC on notice but also became one of the nation’s premier running backs with 1,443 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Adding to the rushing, he caught 28 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns, earning him AP All-SEC honors.

He averaged 6.5 yards per carry, good for the fifth-best in program history, and seven 100-yard games, the best for third in program history for a single season. He earned SEC Offensive Player of the Week twice and set a personal record of 232 rushing yards on 24 carries with three touchdowns against Ole Miss.

Sanders made it clear to the SEC he was among the best of the best and was set to have an even bigger Junior season.

Set as a Preseason All-American, Sanders was on multiple award watchlists, but was limited to just six games after dealing with a knee injury. He did, however, show up in a big-time game against the University of Florida, rushing for over 100 yards and helping lead Arkansas to its first-ever win in the Swamp.

In his senior season, Sanders decided to transfer to the University of South Carolina to finish his college career.

As a senior, he was named All-SEC second team and one of three players to earn Comeback Player of the Year for his performance on the field. Sanders ran for 881 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season while catching 27 passes for 316 yards and two touchdowns. His numbers were amongst the top five in the SEC, and he helped lead South Carolina to their best season since 2017.

Sanders was known for shining when the lights got bright, and he put together a stellar outing against a ranked LSU, having 143 yards and touchdowns on 19 carries.

He was injured during the middle of the season, limiting him to just a few carries over a couple of weeks, but bounced back with consecutive 100-yard games against Texas A&M and Vanderbilt. He earned Offensive Player of the Week for his game against Vanderbilt, where he totaled 178 total yards.

Ending his college career, Sanders was recognized as an Academic All-American and a member of the SEC honor roll. He now has an opportunity to make the regular season with the Chargers, becoming the latest football player from Brevard County to play in the NFL.

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