University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
2026 Football Roster
Roster
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Kaden Saunders
- Position:
- Wide Receiver
- Height:
- 5-10
- Weight:
- 175
- Class:
- Redshirt Junior
- Hometown:
- Columbus, Ohio
- High School:
- Westerville South HS
- Prev School:
- Penn State
2025 (R-Jr.): Did not see any action…2024 (R-So.): Earned Academic All-Big Ten honors…Appeared in four games as a punt returner before missing the rest of the season due to injury...Had 25 punt return yards on four returns…Had a 23-yard punt return versus Kent State (9/21)…2023 (R-Fr.): Earned Academic All-Big Ten honors…Appeared in 12 games on offense and special teams...Was Penn State's primary punt returner through the first five contests...Posted six catches for 56 yards and one touchdown...Has 14 punt returns for 86 yards…Posted five punt returns for 30 yards versus Delaware (9/9), including a long return of nine yards…Collected two receptions for 19 yards against Illinois (9/16)...Added a key 19-yard punt return towards the end of the first half, leading to a Penn State field goal…Registered two punt returns for 43 yards, including a career-long 37-yard return against UMASS (10/14)…Hauled in an 8-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter, his first career touchdown reception versus Ohio State (10/21)...Finished the game with two receptions for 25 yards…Recorded a 13-yard reception on a fourth-down play in the second quarter against Michigan (11/11)…2022 (Fr.): Redshirt season...Appeared in three games...Named the coaching staff's Developmental Squad Offensive Player of the Week (Indiana, 11/5)….Made two grabs for 21 yards versus Ohio (9/1)…HIGH SCHOOL: Four-time letterman for head coach Matthew Christ at Westerville South High School...Two-time team captain...Helped his team to three winning seasons, including a 10-1 mark and a conference championship during his junior campaign...Squad finished 8-3 during senior season...Accepted an invitation to play in the 2022 Under Armour All-American Game...Earned first-team all-state honors twice...Two-time first-team All-OCC honoree...Made 38 receptions for 392 yards, had 28 rushes for 324 yards, posted 269 yards on 10 kick returns and 165 yards on 12 punt returns during his senior season...Tallied 47 catches for 958 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior...Also added eight carries for 117 yards and 16 kick returns for 381 yards...Recorded 17 grabs for 314 yards and 10 kick returns for 337 yards during sophomore season...As a freshman, tallied 203 yards on 12 catches, 203 yards on 27 rushes, 161 yards on seven punt returns and 303 yards on 16 kick returns...Rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports, On3, Rivals and ESPN...Ranked as the No. 56 overall recruit, No. 5 wide receiver and No. 3 prospect in Ohio by 247Sports...Graded the No. 106 player overall, No. 16 wide receiver and No. 5 player in Ohio by On3...Rated the No. 78 recruit nationally, No. 10 wide receiver and No. 3 player in Ohio by Rivals...Tabbed the No. 30 overall recruit, No. 4 wide receiver and No. 2 player in Ohio by ESPN...Also lettered in track and field and baseball…PERSONAL: Full name is Kaden Thomas Saunders...Son of Sheila and Anthony Saunders...Has two sisters, McKenna and Marissa...Has his own day named after him in Westerville, Ohio.
2026 National Signing Day Press Conference with Blake Anderson
Wednesday, February 04
Southern Miss 2026 National Signing Day
Wednesday, February 04
Christian Ostrander Preseason Press Conference
Monday, January 19
Blake Anderson Introductory Press Conference
Monday, December 15
