NFL Draft: Top 10 small school prospects
By John Scimeca
2. Khalen Saunders, DT, Western Illinois
This 6-foot-2, 310 pound senior had 42 tackles (including 13 for loss) and 6.5 sacks for the Fighting Leathernecks in the 2018 season. The St. Louis native has impressed NFL scouts with his quick hands and ability to play nose tackle in Western Illinois’ 3-4 defense, in which he was a three-year starter. Western Illinois finished a disappointing 5-6 in 2018 as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference last season.
Saunders’ size and quickness were on display at the Senior Bowl, where he proved that he could hold his ground against some of the best college offensive linemen in the country. Saunders made headlines before January’s Senior Bowl when he became a father a few days before the contest. His fianceé, Ayanna, gave birth to the couple’s daughter, Kambridge, on a day where Saunders was preparing for the Senior Bowl in a team practice.
And, of course, we can’t discuss Saunders without mentioning his acrobatic skills, as shown in this video by ESPN’s Adam Schefter:
Time of year when small school guys get to show they can compete on the big stage. This is 320-pound, Western Illinois DT Khalen Saunders (@khalenNOTkaylen), who is heading to the Senior Bowl next week. Backflips at his size.... pic.twitter.com/s6QjAkA3zO
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 16, 2019