The 2025 running back class is deep. There are multiple worthy candidates to go in Round 1, many starting-quality running backs on Day 2 with some upside — and even a good pool of Day 3 running backs that will fill out a backfield. Every team could look at this pool of running backs and identify one that fits their context.

One of my favorite running backs on Day 3 is South Carolina’s Raheim Sanders, who will probably fall further than he should because of the depth of this class. Here’s what you need to know about Sanders:

Background

When Sanders was coming out of high school as a four-star recruit, he had plenty of interest. Sanders had 36 offers, including from SEC schools like Tennessee, Auburn, South Carolina and Ole Miss. Sanders committed to a different SEC school, Arkansas, where he played three seasons.

After not playing much as a freshman, Sanders broke out in his sophomore year in 2022. In 13 games, Sanders had 222 carries, 1,443 yards (6.5 yards per carry), and 10 rushing touchdowns. Alongside his rushing production, Sanders also had 28 catches, 271 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Sanders made first-team All-SEC for the Associated Press.

Unfortunately for Sanders, his 2023 didn’t go as well. Sanders struggled with shoulder injuries all season, eventually leading to a torn labrum and surgery. Sanders only played six games, and his production cratered to 62 carries, 209 yards (3.4 yards per carry) and two touchdowns.

Sanders entered the transfer portal in 2024, where he was still a four-star transfer prospect. Sanders had interest from most SEC schools, but chose South Carolina, citing that it was closer to home and South Carolina’s offensive coordinator was with him at Arkansas.

Sanders had a strong bounce-back season. He played 12 games and produced 183 carries, 881 yards (4.8 YPC), and 11 touchdowns. Sanders also had 27 catches, 316 yards, and two receiving touchdowns, making second-team All-SEC.

Sanders measured in at 6’0 and 217 lbs. He tested great in the 40-yard dash with a 4.46 40-yard dash. He also showed great explosiveness with a 36.5-inch vertical and 10-foot broad jump. One concerning area that shows up on film is Sanders’ lack of agility. His 7.39 3-cone drill and 4.49 short shuttle confirmed concerns I had watching him.

Strengths and weaknesses

The best trait Sanders has is his open-field speed and explosiveness. In a straight line, Sanders seems launched from a cannon and darts upfield with elite acceleration. If he’s able to get past your front, Sanders can turn any play into a long touchdown. He maintains high speed from the moment he receives the handoff, but can build up speed in open space.

Sanders is best on interior or gap runs where he can keep his shoulders square, pick a gap to run through, only have to make one cut and then turn upfield. Sanders has good vision and enough juice to bounce runs.

One underrated thing about Sanders is his short-yardage ability. He has the size and physicality to push piles and create first downs. Despite being shorter, Sanders is a compact athlete who plays physical. Considering a team will run power runs with Sanders, the ability to win in short-yardage situations is important.

One underrated thing about Sanders is his catching ability. He’s too stiff ever to run routes like Alvin Kamara or Christian McCaffrey, but as an outlet out of the backfield, he showed soft hands, good field vision and has the speed to create big plays from the flat. Sanders is also big and good in pass protection. Sure, Sanders won’t necessarily win on option routes, but as an extra protector who can leak underneath and create big plays, quarterbacks will trust him.

Sanders’ biggest weakness by far is his stiffness. Sanders will struggle in zone schemes — particularly from shotgun — which ask him to be able to play with different pacing and speeds as he reads blocks. Sanders does have a good “fly-by” move where he hits the brakes and lets defenders overrun him, but his lack of lateral explosiveness means it’s difficult for him to cut. Certain schemes won’t value his rushing style.

How he fits with the Chiefs

Sanders’ fit in Kansas City is strong. The Chiefs desperately need explosive plays out of their backfield and someone who can catch the ball. Sanders is great at both. Yes, the Chiefs might struggle running some run-pass options with Sanders because he doesn’t run outside zone well, but they can adjust for this. By playing more under center and using more pulling runs, which suit players like Trey Smith and Kingsley Suamataia (at guard) well, you can get Sanders to make sense.

If the Chiefs drafted Sanders, I feel confident he would play quickly. Patrick Mahomes would trust him quickly in the receiving game — and that would instantly get him on the field.

The bottom line

Sanders being drafted on Day 3 is almost entirely due to the depth of this running back class. I think he could sneak into the third round in a normal year. Unfortunately, most teams don’t draft or sign multiple options with premium assets for a position like running back, so good talent tends to fall.

Sanders does have limitations. His stiffness will be more profound in the NFL. His production game-to-game will vary, depending on whether he can get out in open space and create explosive runs. I think Sanders will be weaker regarding efficiency, but after Round 4, that’s fine. He can catch the ball and turn any run into a long touchdown. That’s hard to find on Day 3. If the Chiefs drafted Sanders, I think he’d quickly supplant Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt as the starting running back.