Eagles land an All-American RB, a star SEC CB, and a safety in Draft Wire’s latest 2024 mock

Philadelphia #Eagles land an All-SEC RB, All-SEC CB, and Pac 12 safety in Draft Wire’s latest 2 round mock draft

The Eagles are 2-0 and atop the NFC East, but it’s never too early for a look ahead to the 2024 NFL draft.

Draft Wire’s Curt Popejoy recently took an updated look at the 2024 draft class with a two-round mock with Philadelphia, a talented SEC running back, a star SEC cornerback, and a Pac-12 safety.

Stat total leaders for Arkansas in 2023 (projections)

Arkansas should force more turnovers on defense and be more balanced offensively in 2023.

Our managing editor E. Wayne gave readers his take on who will lead the Razorbacks in major statistical categories yesterday.

Today is my turn.

Arkansas’ offense should be more balanced this season with Dan Enos at the helm. If it’s anything like 2015, it could be really exciting.

As for the defense, it will be more aggressive under Travis Williams’ schemes compared to Barry Odom’s 3-man front that dropped eight. Which should lead to more chances for tackles for loss and for forcing turnovers.

Let’s take a stab at it.

Bell has all the respect for KJ and Rocket; so does Rutledge

KJ Jefferson and Rocket Sanders command the respect of Western Carolina coach Kerwin Bell. And Laura Rutledge had some nice things to say about them as well.

Western Carolina coach Kerwin Bell knows what’s in store for his Catamounts on Saturday afternoon in Little Rock.

A heavy dose of quarterback KJ Jefferson and running back Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders, to be exact.

“Can we get him (KJ) on the ground when he makes those runs? Can we cage him in the pocket and make sure we make him a pocket passer?” Bell said. “And don’t give him those explosive runs out of the pocket. And then also the same thing with Rocket, can we get him on the ground? They’re going to get their yards, but let’s don’t give them the easy 60-yard runs that are easy touchdowns.

“Let’s make them earn it. And if we can do that and tackle well like I said earlier, I’ll be very pleased, and I think we’ll be in the game.”

SEC Network and NFL Live host Laura Rutledge, who is a Florida alum just like Bell is a former Gator quarterback, was also highly complimentary of the Jefferson-Sanders combination during her Monday speaking engagement at the Little Rock Touchdown Club.

Rutledge, who had been off the air for the last three plus months on maternity leave, returned to her NFL Live hosting duties on Tuesday.

Coaches select six Hogs as preseason All-SEC

Senior running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders and senior cornerback Dwight “Nudie” McGlothern were both selected first-teamers by the SEC coaches

Six Arkansas Razorbacks were voted to the 2023 Preseason Coaches All-SEC teams, the league announced Tuesday.

Arkansas landed two first-team selections, in junior running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders and senior cornerback Dwight “Nudie” McGlothern. Sanders was previously named Preseason First Team All-SEC by the media last month, while McGlothern earned second-team honors.

The coaches’ second team included senior quarterback KJ Jefferson and two of his senior offensive linemen, Brady Latham and Beaux Limmer.

Jefferson and Latham were also second-team selections by the media.

Junior kicker Cam Little, a Freshman All-SEC performer in 2021, rounded out the coaches’ selections with third-team honors.

This was highest number of Razorbacks on the list since the 2011 team that finished the season 11-2, who placed seven players on the first two units.

Here’s a look at the complete Preseason All-SEC football teams. Georgia led the way with 14 selections and LSU had 11.

FIRST TEAM

Offense

QB – Jayden Daniels, LSU

RB – Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss

RB – Raheim Sanders, Arkansas

WR – Malik Nabers, LSU

WR – Antwane Wells*, South Carolina

WR – Ladd McConkey*, Georgia

TE – Brock Bowers, Georgia

OL – JC Latham, Alabama

OL – Tate Ratledge, Georgia

OL – Will Campbell, LSU

OL – Amarius Mims, Georgia

C – Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia

AP – Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

Defense

DL – Mekhi Wingo, LSU

DL – Mykel Williams, Georgia

DL – Nazir Stackhouse, Georgia

DL – Maason Smith, LSU

LB – Dallas Turner, Alabama

LB – Harold Perkins, LSU

LB – Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia

DB – Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

DB – Malaki Starks, Georgia

DB – Javon Bullard, Georgia

DB – Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas

Special Teams

PK – Will Reichard, Alabama

P – Kai Kroeger, South Carolina

RS – Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama

KOS – Mitch Jeter, South Carolina

LS – Wesley Schelling, Vanderbilt

SECOND TEAM

Offense

QB – KJ Jefferson, Arkansas

RB – Jase McClellan, Alabama

RB – Kendall Milton, Georgia

WR – Bru McCoy, Tennessee

WR – Evan Stewart*, Texas A&M

WR – Will Sheppard*, Vanderbilt

WR – Jermaine Burton*, Alabama

TE – Mason Taylor, LSU

OL – Javon Foster, Missouri

OL – Brady Latham, Arkansas

OL – Tyler Booker, Alabama

OL – Xavier Truss*, Georgia

OL – Emery Jones*, LSU

C – Beaux Limmer, Arkansas

AP – Tulu Griffin, Mississippi State

Defense

DL – McKinnley Jackson, Texas A&M

DL – Jaheim Oatis, Alabama

DL – Deone Walker, Kentucky

DL – Justin Eboigbe, Alabama

LB – Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State

LB – Smael Mondon, Georgia

LB – JJ Weaver, Kentucky

DB – Kamari Lassiter, Georgia

DB – Kris Abrams-Draine, Missouri

DB – Malachi Moore, Alabama

DB – Demani Richardson, Texas A&M

Special Teams

PK – Harrison Mevis, Missouri

P – Nik Constantinou, Texas A&M

RS – Ainias Smith, Texas A&M

KOS – Nathan Dibert, LSU

LS – Kneeland Hibbett, Alabama

THIRD TEAM

Offense

QB – Will Rogers, Mississippi State

RB – Trevor Etienne, Florida

RB – Jarquez Hunter, Auburn

WR – Luther Burden III, Missouri

WR – Ainias Smith*, Texas A&M

WR – Ja’Corey Brooks*, Alabama

TE – Luke Deal*, Auburn

TE – Caden Prieskorn*, Ole Miss

TE – Michael Trigg*, Ole Miss

TE – Trey Knox*, South Carolina

OL – Layden Robinson, Texas A&M

OL – Eli Cox, Kentucky

OL – Jeremy James, Ole Miss

OL – Kam Stutts*, Auburn

OL – Javontez Spraggins*, Tennessee

OL – Micah Pettus*, Ole Miss

C – Cooper Mays, Tennessee

AP – Dakereon Joyner, South Carolina

Defense

DL – Princely Umanmiellen, Florida

DL – Tonka Hemingway, South Carolina

DL – Jared Ivey, Ole Miss

DL – Tim Smith*, Alabama

DL – Darius Robinson*, Missouri

LB – Ty’Ron Hopper, Missouri

LB – Jett Johnson, Mississippi State

LB – Chris Braswell, Alabama

DB – Marcellas Dial, South Carolina

DB – Nehemiah Pritchett, Auburn

DB – Jason Marshall, Florida

DB – Greg Brooks, LSU

Special Teams

PK – Cam Little, Arkansas

P – Oscar Chapman*, Auburn

P – Matthew Hayball*, Vanderbilt

RS – Tulu Griffin, Mississippi State

LS – Slade Roy, LSU

*denotes tie in votes, ties are not broken.

2024 NFL draft watch list: Top running backs for the New Orleans Saints

2024 NFL draft watch list: Highlighting top options at running back for the New Orleans Saints | @DillySanders

The New Orleans Saints are looking good at running back for now, but you can never take your eyes off a position like that. The turnaround at running back is high so the Saints could still be watching the position in the draft.

Jamaal Williams is coming off of a great year, but both he and Alvin Kamara are both 28 and these days that is almost ancient for a star running back. Todd Gurley retired and he’s only 29. It’s hard to predict when someone falls off the cliff at this position.

The Saints running back room has a little bit of everything right now, but it’s clear that they favor some versatility. There are some great names available for the second and third rounds, which seems to be the go to spot for running backs these days (unless you’re the Atlanta Falcons or Detroit Lions).

Here are the top names at running back to keep an eye on this college football season, while there’s really no Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs, it’s still a fun class:

Rocket named preseason AP All-American

The stout junior ran for 1,426 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

The preseason hype continues to build for Arkansas junior running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, who was named a second-team preseason All-American by the Associated Press on Monday,

The 6-foot-2, 242-pound speedster was a first-team All-SEC pick after last season and has already been tabbed as a first-team preseason selection this year, following SEC Media Days in July. He has also been named to the national Watch Lists for the Walter Camp. Doak Walker and Maxwell Awards.

Sanders is the first Razorback offensive player to be named to the AP Preseason All-American team since current Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow in 2017. Former safety Jalen Catalon earned the honor in 2021.

Sanders ran had 219 carries as a sophomore for 1,426 yards and 10 touchdowns. While making the SEC All-Freshman team two years ago, he played in all 13 games, finishing with 578 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground — averaging 5.2 yards per carry — while also hauling in 11 passes for 109 yards and a score.

“You would think that he’s a freshman that just got here,” offensive coordinator Enos said during a Thursday press conference. “When I say that, I mean his attitude and his demeanor and the way he practices. He doesn’t practice like a guy who rushed for 1,500 yards last year and has all these accolades. He runs the ball in practice like a guy who is very hungry and has something to prove.”

Sanders is the leader of a stacked running back room for the Hogs, which also includes AJ Green, Rashod Dubinion and Dominque Johnson.

Doak Walker Award Preseason Watch List includes Rocket Sanders

Rocket Sanders earns a spot on the Doak Walker Award preseason watch list ahead of 2023.

[autotag]Rocket Sanders[/autotag] continues to rack up the preseason honors and accolades.

The Arkansas running back was one of the players named to the Doak Walker Award’s preseason watch list on Wednesday morning. The Doak Walker Award is given to the nation’s top college running back each year.

Sanders is coming off an incredible 2022 season that saw him rush for 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns, which is the fourth-most by a running back in a single season in Razorback history. He joined Darren McFadden as just the second Razorback to ever run for more than 1,400 yards and return to school the following year.

The Rockledge, Fla. native finished second in the SEC in rushing last season – behind Ole Miss tailback Quinshon Judkins. His performance last year earned him first team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press (AP) and USA Today. Late last month, Sanders was named to the Maxwell Award preseason watch list – the award given to the best player in college football.

Sanders will headline the Razorback backfield when they kick off the season on Sept. 2 against Western Carolina at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

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Arkansas running back Rocket Sanders named to Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List

Rocket Sanders was one of just three SEC running backs to be named to the preseason Maxwell Award watch list and joins elite company in the process.

Arkansas running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders was one of 85 players named to the Maxwell Award’s preseason watch list. The award is presented to the best player in all of college football each year.

He joins quarterback KJ Jefferson on the watch list, making Arkansas just one of 16 schools with two players represented.

Sanders is coming off an incredible 2022 season that saw him rush for 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns, which is the fourth-most by a running back in a single season in Razorback history. He joined Darren McFadden as just the second Razorback to ever run for more than 1,400 yards and return to school the following year.

The Rockledge, Fla. native finished second in the SEC in rushing last season, which earned him first team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press (AP) and USA Today. [autotag]Rocket Sanders[/autotag] is one of just three SEC running backs named to the preseason Maxwell Award watch list, joining Jase Mclellan (Alabama) and Quinshon Judkins (Ole Miss).

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PHOTO GALLERY: Arkansas at SEC Media Days 2023

PHOTO GALLERY: A look at Arkansas’ assembled crew making the rounds on Wednesday in Nashville.

KJ Jefferson, Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders and Landon Jackson got their time to shine in Nashville on Wednesday as part of the annual gathering of media.

All three players talked to a host of reporters, bloggers, radio hosts and TV talking heads.

Sam Pittman was also along for the ride.

Take a look and soak it in with just a month and a half until the football season starts.

2024 NFL draft: Preseason RB watch list and early rankings

The initial 2024 NFL draft running back rankings and preseason watch list from Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon

Running backs have taken a hit in value in recent NFL drafts, but with two (Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs) being selected in the top 12 in 2023, perhaps a resurgence is coming. The early returns on the potential draft class of 2024 aren’t so strong, but there are some impressive talents to watch in the upcoming college season.

These are very fluid rankings. In general, these are early impressions about the NFL potential of players who still have a considerable amount of football to play before they’re drafted. The RB position in particular lends itself to players rising or falling rapidly on one season, so don’t expect the final rankings in April to look anything like this.

After watching enough to get a baseline feel for the players, and in talking with some NFL-employed scouts, here is an early listing and my preliminary ranking for the running backs in the NFL draft class of 2024.