On Monday, Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said junior running back Rocket Sanders was back at practice for the Razorbacks after missing five of the team’s first eight games. Sanders’ status for Arkansas’ ninth game was to be determined.
Things are trending up for the preseason All-American.
Pittman met with the media again Wednesday and said he felt more confident midweek that Sanders would play against Florida on Saturday.
“Flashes that I’ve seen, I feel really good about him being able to play, but just another couple of days of consistency,” Pittman said.
Sanders likely won’t return to his 20-carry workload against the Gators, healthy or not. He needs time to get back into so-called game shape. But if the man who ran for almost 1,400 yards last year en route that preseason All-American status entering this can give Arkansas, say, seven carries and 45 yards or so, it will be a huge step in the right direction for the Razorbacks.
Of course, assuming other things on offense go right, too.
“Today (Wednesday) is a big third down day for us. How is he going to protect, and things of that nature?” Pittman said. “Just the whole week, of what the whole Monday through Thursday encompasses, but the first two days, I feel confident that he will be able to go out there and help us.”