Khalen Saunders

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Khalen Saunders
No. 99 – Kansas City Chiefs
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1996-08-09) August 9, 1996 (age 25)
St. Louis, Missouri
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:324 lb (147 kg)
Career information
High school:Parkway Central
(Chesterfield, Missouri)
College:Western Illinois
NFL Draft:2019 / Round: 3 / Pick: 84
Career history
Roster status:Injured reserve
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 10, 2021
Total tackles:33
Sacks:1.0
Pass deflections:1
Player stats at NFL.com

Khalen Saunders (born August 9, 1996) is an American football defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Western Illinois and high school football at Parkway Central High School.

College career[]

After playing high school football as a running back and a defensive lineman at Parkway Central High School, Saunders received only one Division 1 scholarship offer, from Western Illinois.[1]

During his career at WIU, Saunders mainly played defensive line but also sporadically continued his career on the offensive side of the ball, recording a rushing and a receiving touchdown in his career.[1] After his senior season, he became the first Leatherneck ever invited to the Senior Bowl,[2] and while playing in the contest, recorded the game's first sack on Will Grier, earning accolades from Oakland Raiders coach Jon Gruden.[3][1] Saunders also picked up exposure over the offseason by having a video of him backflipping featured on prominent draft analyst Adam Schefter's Twitter account; the tweet amassed over 7,000 likes.[4]

Professional career[]

Saunders was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round with the 84th overall pick the 2019 NFL Draft.[5] Saunders won Super Bowl LIV when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31–20.[6]

Saunders was placed on injured reserve on September 19, 2020 after suffering a dislocated elbow in Week 1.[7] He was activated on October 24.[8]

On November 30, 2021, Saunders was placed on injured reserve.

Personal life[]

He and his wife Ayanna Saunders had a daughter who was born while he was at the 2019 Senior Bowl.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d Rittenberg, Adam (April 20, 2019). "Backflips, basketball and a baby: The legend of Khalen Saunders". ESPN. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  2. ^ "Saunders Represents Leathernecks as First-Ever Reese's Senior Bowl Invitee". Western Illinois Leathernecks. January 21, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  3. ^ Marino, Joe (February 15, 2019). "Khalen Saunders Does Rare Things". The Draft Network. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  4. ^ Epstein, Jory (January 22, 2019). "Viral, backflipping DT Khalen Saunders explains why he stayed at Senior Bowl as fiancée went into labor". USA Today. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  5. ^ Swanson, Kent; Sweeney, Pete (April 26, 2019). "NFL Draft results: Chiefs select Western Illinois DT Khalen Saunders at No. 84". Arrowhead Pride. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  6. ^ "Super Bowl LIV – San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs – February 2nd, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  7. ^ Goldman, Charles (September 19, 2020). "Chiefs place DT Khalen Saunders on IR, elevate practice squad DT Braxton Hoyett". Chiefs Wire. USA Today. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  8. ^ Goldman, Charles (October 24, 2020). "Chiefs make two roster moves on Saturday". Chiefs Wire. USA Today. Retrieved March 21, 2021.

External links[]

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