Khalen SaundersNorth Team

SENIOR (2018): 2018 Associated Press All-American … 2018 STATS FCS First Team All-American … 2018 First Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference …  2018 Buck Buchanan Award watchlist selection … finished third on the team in tackles with 72 … added 13.0 TFLs for 57 yards lost (ranked fifth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference) … ranked second on the team and sixth in the Valley in sacks (6.5) … tied as the team leader in QB hurries (5) … recorded a career-high 11 tackles versus the reigning FCS champions NDSU …  recorded a touchdown on first career reception versus Youngstown State ... finished his Western career sixth all-time in sacks (18).

JUNIOR (2017): Named Honorable Mention Preseason All-Missouri Valley Football Conference…Phil Steele’s All-American list… First Team All-MVFC

SOPHOMORE (2016): Honorable Mention All-Missouri Valley Football Conference... started in all 11 games... 48 tackles, 5.0 for a loss... two pass break-ups and blocked a kick... made his first collegiate start at Eastern Illinois, finished with four tackles to match his career-high... two of his three tackles against Northern Arizona were solo stops... three tackles, including a shared sack, at Northern Illinois... three solo tackles, including two tackles for a loss, at South Dakota State... career-high six solo tackles against Indiana State and also matched his best of two tackles for a loss... five tackles at Missouri State... five tackles, broke up a pass and blocked a field goal attempt against North Dakota State... career-high eight tackles at South Dakota, including a personal-best seven solo stops... four tackles and a quarterback hurry versus Illinois State... three solo tackles against UNI... five tackles at Southern Illinois (four solos).
CAREER-HIGH TACKLES: 8 at SOUTH DAKOTA (10/29/16)
CAREER-HIGH TFL: 2.0 on three occasions

REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2015): Played in all 13 games... made 27 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss and 2.5 sacks... recovered a fumble... recorded two solo tackles in his debut against Eastern Illinois... four tackles at Illinois... recovered a fumble at Coastal Carolina... three solo tackles against Southern Illinois... made two tackles versus South Dakota... solo tackle at UNI... shared on a sack at Illinois State... played against Youngstown State... four tackles at North Dakota State, matching his season-high... made four solo tackles at Indiana State, including a 7-yard TFL... made four tackles, including 2.0 TFL and a sack, with a quarterback hurry against South Dakota State... assisted tackle at Dayton... assisted tackle at Illinois State.

REDSHIRT (2014): Redshirted.

HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered in football, wrestling and track/field… earned All-Conference and All-State honors at defensive tackle and at offensive athlete… team placed second in state during the 2013 football season… was runner-up following his junior year in the state track meet in the shot put… played for coach Mark Goldenberg.

PERSONAL: Born August 9, 1996 in St. Louis… his parents have been a major influence, “They support me and my brother, even though we have very different talents.”… most admires his HS coach Mark Goldenberg, “For giving me a chance to run the ball.”… hobbies include the piano and tumbling… favorite professional team is the Seattle Seahawks… favorite musicians are Kanye West and Chance the Rapper… son of Kenton Saunders and Kim Hamilton. Major is Math Education.