By Otis Kirk

FAYETTEVILLE -- Junior running back Raheim "Rocket" Sanders is listed at 6-foot-2, 242-pounds on the Arkansas roster.

Sanders returns after an outstanding sophomore season. He rushed 222 times for 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns. Sanders also caught 28 passes for 271 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Sanders was asked on Tuesday if there was a particular weight he had in mind to play at?

"I really didn’t have a plan going into the weight thing," Sanders said. "But me and Coach (Ben) Sowders talked about it. He wanted me around the 235, 240 range because whenever I was at 246 I wasn’t moving as best as I felt. I feel like, just starting with fall camp it helped me to lose a little bit of weight and stay at that 240, down to 235 range and I feel way more comfortable speed wise and not being too tired."

Some on social media have speculated maybe Sanders is too big. Have you seen that?

"Nah," Sanders said. "People are always going to have stuff to say, but that’s not something I’m looking for. I’m definitely looking forward to this season. I’m not worried about what nobody else has to say. At the end of the day, they are going to have negative and good thoughts about me and my teammates, so I don’t really look into that."

Sanders' teammate and fellow captain KJ Jefferson opted to bypass the 2023 NFL Draft and return to quarterback the Hogs again this fall. Any additional pressure being his final year at Arkansas?

"I feel like there’s no pressure at all," Jefferson said. "As long as we go out there and execute at a very high level. This is a game we love. We’ve been playing the game since we were little. No added pressure. No pressure upon us. I just feel like we have to go out there, have fun and just let it loose. Just play ball. At the end of the day, it’s football. It’s what you love to do. Go out there and let it hang."

Maybe one reason for the optimism from Jefferson and Sanders is the Arkansas defense is expected to be much better than in 2022. Defensive end Zach Williams presented a case for this year's defense definitely being better.

"Like I said, we have more depth I feel like," Williams said. "There’s a lot more reliable people. I wouldn’t say last year they weren’t reliable, but you always want to move forward and have better reliability. So that’s something. Coach T-Will (Travis Williams), he’s an awesome spirit. He gets you fired up. He always has something right to say. I guess he is a little younger. He always knows how to talk to us, kind of, and I feel like it just hits a different spot. The coaches, too. You can see the coaches, there is something about them. I guess it’s because of T-Will or something, they’re a little fiery. I like that, and that’s what you need to be a good defense."

Williams is set to begin his fifth season with the Razorbacks. In four years, Williams has played in 44 games with 10 starts. He has compiled 91 tackles, 33 solo, 13.5 for loss, 8.0 sacks, 1.0 forced fumble and 8.0 quarterback hurries. His fifth season will start at a stadium he's very familiar with.

"I know I do better every year," Williams said. "So I’m just trying to do better than the last year … Going to War Memorial, it’s the last time I’m ever going to play there. I’ve been playing there since I was in PeeWee, then middle school, high school and college now. It’s the last time, so I’ve got to make some shake. Do some good and leave something memorable on the field."  

Williams, like Jefferson and Sanders, are glad to face a different opponent since they have been practicing for several weeks.

"I’m excited," Williams said. "I’m ready to play against somebody else instead of the same people every day. Like KJ said, the atmosphere, there’s nothing that can compare to it when you have all those people yelling at you, wanting you to succeed. So I’m just ready for it."

Arkansas and Western Carolina will be on ESPN+ and SEC Network+ with kickoff set for noon in Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium.