Raheim Sanders is among the former South Carolina Gamecocks worth keeping an eye on as NFL preseason action moves into full swing this week. The Browns running back is part of a wider group of former South Carolina players who will be spread across Friday and Saturday's action.
Sanders gets his chance in preseason action
Preseason football is often about evaluation as much as entertainment, and that is especially true for players looking to make an impression early. Sanders is one of the names highlighted from the South Carolina Gamecocks in the NFL, giving fans of the program a familiar player to follow as the exhibition games begin.
For Sanders, the value of this stage is straightforward. Every snap matters, and every opportunity is a chance to show he belongs in the conversation as teams continue sorting out their plans ahead of the new season.
A wider group of Gamecocks to follow
Sanders is not the only former South Carolina player set to feature. Jalon Kilgore, Bryan Thomas Jr., Joshua Simon, Nick Muse, Kingsley Enagbare, Alex Huntley, Javon Kinlaw and Darius Rush are also part of the broader preseason watchlist, along with players connected to the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Jaguars, Broncos, Jets, Packers, Dolphins, Commanders and Atlanta.
That spread underlines how many former South Carolina Gamecocks are trying to make an impact across the league. It also gives supporters of the program several different games to check in on over the weekend.
What to watch next
Alex Huntley offers a useful reminder of how quickly these opportunities can develop. Last year, he signed with Miami as a UDFA, and last season he spent the year on the Dolphins' practice squad. That is the kind of path many players are trying to build during preseason action.
Raheim Sanders now finds himself in that same wider conversation. The exhibition schedule will not settle everything, but it does provide the first real chance for former South Carolina Gamecocks to show where they stand before the NFL season begins.
