Star Arkansas RB Raheim "Rocket" Sanders Will Not Play Against BYU

Arkansas RB Raheim Sanders is nursing a knee injury

Casey Lundquist | Sep 11, 2023

On Monday, Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman announced that star running back Raheim "Rocket" Sanders will not play against BYU. Sanders is nursing a knee injury that he suffered in the season opener.

Sam Pittman said TB Rocket Sanders is out this week and needs to get swelling down and re-evaluate his status for the LSU night game the week after
— Thomas Murphy (@TomMurphyADG) September 11, 2023

Backup running back AJ Green replaced Sanders in the starting lineup for Arkansas last week. Green had 15 carries for 82 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Green, a junior, has rushed for 745 yards and 4 touchdowns in his career at Arkansas.

Sanders was one of the best running backs in college football last season. He ran for over 1,400 yards and 10 touchdowns and he also caught 28 passes for 271 and 2 touchdowns. Sanders torched BYU in Provo with 175 yards on 15 carries in the Razorbacks' 52-35 win. Sanders was named a captain for Arkansas this season and he was also a preseason All-SEC selection at running back. His absence is a critical storyline going into Saturday night.

Meanwhile, BYU is expected to welcome back Kody Epps into the rotation. For the second consecutive week, BYU wide receiver Kody Epps did not play for BYU against Southern Utah. Epps, who has been dealing with a nagging injury from Fall camp, is expected to play next week against Arkansas. After the game, BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said he believes Epps will be ready to play against the Razorbacks.

Epps was one of BYU's top wide receivers in 2022. He finished with 459 receiving yards and he played particularly well against Arkansas. In that game, he finished with 9 receptions for 125 yards and a touchdown. Epps' season was cut short after he suffered a season-ending injury at Liberty.

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Published Sep 11, 2023

CASEY LUNDQUIST

Casey Lundquist is the publisher and lead editor of Cougs Daily. He has covered BYU athletics for the last four years. During that time, he has published over 2,000 stories that have reached more than three million people.