Rocket Sanders has officially accepted an invite to play in the Shrine Bowl

South Carolina running back Raheim Sanders did not play in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl with the Gamecocks because he declared for the 2025 NFL Draft and opted out of the game in order to make sure he didn't get hurt before the NFL Combine in late February.

Sanders didn't have any eligibility left, so even if he wanted to play for the Gamecocks for a second season, he wouldn't be able to, but being a senior has its perks as well. Sanders has been invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl and has officially accepted his invitation to participate.

What is the Shrine Bowl?

The Shrine Bowl as a whole is a series of games to showcase the country's top players and coaches in different games and is a way to raise money for charity organizations. The games have been played annually since 1925 to help showcase senior college football players who are preparing to go into the NFL.

NFL scouts and executives attend the games in order to scout out talent for their team before the NFL Combine and different college pro days. There are four games played at the Shine Bowl: the East-West Shrine Bowl, the Kansas Shrine Bowl, the Iowa Shrine Bowl, and the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

Sanders is set to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl, which is set to be the biggest of the four games. This year will mark the 100th East-West Shrine Bowl, as the first one was played back in 1925. The game is set to take place on January 30, 2025, and will be played in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX.