Eli Sanders
Eli Sanders
Does a little of everything without one standout trait. Across five seasons and three programs, three head coaches: Matt Campbell, Bronco Mendenhall and Lincoln Riley. One game to point at: 84 rush yds, 17 rec yds against Michigan State — Week 4, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
Career Arc
Coaching Lineage · 2021–2025
2 coachesCoaching transition mid-career: Donte Williams → Lincoln Riley. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Lincoln Riley
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | USC | 44 | 258 | 5.9 | 2 | -- |
| 2024 | New Mexico | 147 | 1,064 | 7.2 | 9 | -- |
| 2023 | Iowa State | 102 | 477 | 4.7 | 4 | -- |
| 2022 | Iowa State | 48 | 187 | 3.9 | 0 | -- |
| 2021 | Iowa State | 9 | 29 | 3.2 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 350 | 2,015 | 5.8 | 15 | -- |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | USC | 8 | 126 | 15.8 | 1 | -- |
| 2024 | New Mexico | 15 | 134 | 8.9 | 0 | -- |
| 2023 | Iowa State | 5 | 43 | 8.6 | 1 | -- |
| 2022 | Iowa State | 7 | 51 | 7.3 | 0 | -- |
| 2021 | Iowa State | 3 | 41 | 13.7 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 38 | 395 | 10.4 | 2 | -- |
How he plays
Play style
Plays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
USC
2026 Depth chart
Returning starter
Running back · USC
Returning around him
- 37% of 2024 offensive production back (Moderate turnover)
- 3 USC players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -13 net (9 in / 22 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
USC · Last season: 9-4 (AP #16) · Talent rank #17 · 2026 recruiting class #1
DNA match
Player DNA
Balanced Back
Plays within the scheme — consistent production without a dominant dimension.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to OJ Arnold’s 2023 season.
Matches OJ on
Differs from OJ on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a graduate, his production profile tracks closest to Dontae McMillan's graduate season at Eastern Michigan (2025).
Matches Dontae on
Differs from Dontae on
Heisman trajectory
Heisman Trajectory · 2025
Peak #202
Peaked at #202 this season.
Development
Development Trajectory · rushing yards
2021–2025+790%
Up 790% from first season to most-recent.