South Carolina football running back named to prestigious award watch list

South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer and his staff brought in a large transfer portal recruiting class this offseason. With holes on the roster at numerous positions and depth concerns at others, the Gamecocks added multiple players at every position group on offense and defense.

One of the top-rated transfers in the Carolina portal class is running back Rocket Sanders. Sanders, who spent three years as a member of the Arkansas Razorbacks, was an All-American in 2022 before dealing with some injuries last season. He is the presumed starter in the backfield for the Gamecocks, and if he is healthy and returns to form, Sanders could be in for a big year in garnet and black.

On Monday, the Maxwell Football Club announced the Maxwell Award preseason watch list. Rocket Sanders was 1 of 80 players to make the list.

Every year, the Maxwell Award is given to the player deemed by the Maxwell Football Club to be the best in college football. It has been presented every year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert "Tiny" Maxwell, a former player at Swarthmore College who became a sportswriter and football official.

The Maxwell Football Club partners with college football writer Phil Steele and Pro Football Focus' college division to create the preseason watch list.

The full Maxwell Award preseason watch list can be seen below:

Jalen Milroe, Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback
Joey Aguilar, Appalachian State quarterback
Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona Wildcats wide receiver
Noah Fifita, Arizona Wildcats quarterback
Jarquez Hunter, Auburn Tigers running back
Dequan Finn, Baylor Bears quarterback
Ashton Jeanty, Boise State Broncos running back
Thomas Castellanos, Boston College Eagles quarterback
Terion Stewart, Bowling Green running back
Jaydn Ott, Cal Golden Bears running back
Corey Kiner, Cincinnati Bearcats running back
Cade Klubnik, Clemson Tigers quarterback
Phil Mafah, Clemson Tigers running back
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado Buffaloes quarterback
Tory Horton, Colorado State Rams wide receiver
Jordan Moore, Duke Blue Devils wide receiver
Graham Mertz, Florida Gators quarterback
DJ Uiagalelei, Florida State Seminoles quarterback
Carson Beck, Georgia Bulldogs quarterback
Trevor Etienne, Georgia Bulldogs running back
Haynes King, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback
Jamal Hayens, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back
Brayden Schager, Hawaii Rainbow Warriors quarterback
Devin Neal, Kansas Jayhawks running back
Jalon Daniels, Kansas Jayhawks quarterback
DJ Giddens, Kansas State Wildcats running back
Avery Johnson, Kansas State Wildcats quarterback
Kaidon Salter, Liberty Flames quarterback
Quinton Cooley, Liberty Flames quarterback
Tyler Shough, Louisville Cardinals quarterbacks
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU Tigers quarterback
Kyren Lacy, LSU Tigers wide receiver
Seth Henigan, Memphis Tigers quarterback
Xavier Restrepo, Miami Hurricanes wide receiver
Damien Martinez, Miami Hurricanes running back
Cam Ward, Miami Hurricanes quarterback
Donovan Edwards, Michigan Wolverines running back
Darius Taylor, Minnesota Golden Gophers running back
Brady Cook, Missouri Tigers quarterback
Luther Burden, Missouri Tigers wide receiver
Grayson McCall, NC State Wolfpack quarterback
Omarion Hampton, North Carolina Tar Heels running back
Antario Brown, Northern Illinois Huskies running back
Riley Leonard, Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback
Will Howard, Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback
Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State Buckeyes running back
Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver
Jackson Arnold, Oklahoma Sooners quarterback
Ollie Gordon, Oklahoma State Cowboys running back
Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss Rebels quarterback
Tez Johnson, Oregon Ducks wide receiver
Dillon Gabriel, Oregon Ducks quarterback
Drew Allar, Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback
Nicholas Singleton, Penn State Nittany Lions running back
Kyle Monangai, Rutgers Scarlet Knights running back
Marquez Cooper, San Diego State Aztecs running back
Preston Stone, SMU Mustangs quarterback
Rocket Sanders, South Carolina Gamecocks running back
Byrum Brown, South Florida Bulls quarterback
Elic Ayomanor, Stanford Cardinal wide receiver
Kyle McCord, Syracuse Orange quarterback
LeQuint Allen, Syracuse Orange running back
Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee Volunteers quarterback
Quinn Ewers, Texas Longhorns quarterback
Conner Weigman, Texas A&M Aggies quarterback
Jordan McCloud, Texas State Bobcats quarterback
Ismail Mahdi, Texas State Bobcats running back
Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech Red Raiders running back
Makhi Hughes, Tulane Green Wave running back
KJ Jefferson, UCF Golden Knights quarterback
RJ Harvey, UCF Golden Knights running back
Ricky White, UNLV Runnin' Rebels wide receiver
Miller Moss, Southern Cal Trojans quarterback
Cam Rising, Utah Utes quarterback
Jalen Royals, Utah State Aggies wide receiver
Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech Hokies quarterback
Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech Hokies running back
Will Rogers, Washington Huskies quarterback
Garrett Greene, West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback
TJ Finley, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers quarterback