STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Penn State redshirt sophomore Kaden Saunders arrived on campus as a four-star recruit and for the most part, he’s flown under the radar.
In 2023, his first as a contributor for Penn State, Saunders found his way onto the field as a punt returner the first five games. Though he performed admirably, he lost that duty to senior cornerback Daequan Hardy, who promptly responded to the promotion with three returns for 129 yards and two touchdowns against Massachusetts, becoming the first player in Penn State history to score two punt return touchdowns in a single game.
Now gearing up for his second year on the main roster and third year in the program, the Columbus, Ohio, native returns to his original role as a punt returner, but will be asked to produce more at wide receiver – his natural position coming out of Westerville South High School.
Through seven practices, Saunders said there’s been an adjustment playing in new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s offense, but overall, he feels comfortable.
“It feels a little different,” Saunders said. “It’s just being more comfortable playing fast, knowing what to expect with how fast the game moves, being different from high school and stuff, so I feel comfortable.”
With Kotelnicki devising ways to get the ball to as many playmakers as he can put on the field, and going into his second year under wide receivers coach Marques Hagans, Saunders feels like he’s earned the trust of the coaching staff that he can produce with the ball in his hands.
“It’s all linked together for me,” Saunders said, “just being able to be back there and know that I’m trusted by the coaching staff with the ball in my hands. Coach Hagans tells us all the time at punt returner that we’re the third-most important person that touches the football behind quarterback and center because if we don’t get the ball back to the ref, then that means something bad happened. So, it gives me a lot of confidence, even at receiver.”
One area that Saunders has had to adjust most is the physical component of Big Ten football at Penn State. When he arrived in Happy Valley three years ago, he was 170 pounds and said he felt heavy, that his body composition was off.
Now, Saunders has bulked up to 176 pounds and believes the reps he gets against Penn State’s vaunted defense every day has been beneficial.
“It’s been more about my body composition, losing body fat for me,” Saunders said. “I’m comfortable around 180. I’m comfortable playing at that. I don’t plan on getting much above that, but if they need me to, then I will. I think it’s more about the body composition and making sure I’m lean.
“It just comes with reps and doing things over and over again. Obviously, I think we have the most physical defense in the country, so going against them every day is doing nothing but making me better.”
As a punt returner, Saunders returned 14 kicks for 86 yards in 2023. However, as a wide receiver, Saunders didn’t get many opportunities to showcase his speed and ability – posting six receptions for 56 yards with a touchdown.
With the season 17 days away, Saunders looks like he’ll start as the primary punt returner, according to new special teams coordinator Justin Lustig, who called Saunders “the clear leader in the clubhouse” right now.
“We showed the team a stat the other day: There were 199 muffed punts in college football last year, so it starts with catching the football,” Lustig said. “It starts with having range and not allowing the ball to bounce down the field, and Kaden gives us both of those. I don’t mean to discredit his playmaking ability, but he is solid as can be in those first two areas. He’s the clear leader right now. However, we’ve got some names that pop out that are working back there. Anthony Ivey, Quinton Martin, Josiah Brown; some of the young guys, Tyseer Denmark, all that have the potential to be dynamic back there as well. A lot of depth, but right now, the veteran back there is who we feel is the best for the program.”
Upon hearing Lustig’s media day endorsement, Saunders feels more confident in the role this season.
“It’s really just focusing on catching the ball,” Saunders said. “They pinpoint that it’s about who they trust back there the most, not about who’s the most talented. I pride myself on catching the ball no matter where it’s at and giving us a good field position as an offense. Once the ball hits the ground, that’s like two first downs that we have to get back. So, it’s just catching everything, and then knowing that Coach Lustig said that, that just gives me a lot of confidence, knowing that he trusts me and believes in me.”
Saunders’ outlook in the wide receiver mix isn’t as clear. He’s competing with Liam Clifford for reps in the slot, but Denmark has flashed in preseason camp and could vie for time as a true freshman.
The wide receiver depth chart largely focuses around former Ohio State wide receiver Julian Fleming and redshirt junior Trey Wallace. According to Saunders, both players have brought consistency and leadership to the room in camp.
“Trey’s probably been the most consistent out of everyone in the receiver room,” Saunders said. “Coach Franklin just praised him about it. Just him being consistent every single day, that’s showing the coaches and all the players on the team that we can count on him this year.
“(Julian’s) a whole vet, how he approaches everything. He’s been through a lot. He’s seen a lot. The way he approaches meetings, you can tell that he is going to be successful. He knows the whole offense. He doesn’t just focus on one position. He knows all three receiver positions. Him bringing that leadership aspect to the room, bringing guys along with him to get catches and take care of their bodies, is gonna help out this year.”
