Pronunciation
SOND-ers
Saunders' Cal Career Game Highs
Tackles: 5 (vs. Stanford, 2022)
Tackles For Loss: 1.0 (five times, last at North Texas, 2023)
Tackle For Loss Yards: 12 (at Washington, 2021)
Sacks: 1.0 (three times, last at Arizona, 2021)
Sack Yards: 12 (at Washington, 2021)
Forced Fumbles: 1 (twice, last vs. Washington State, 2021)
Quarterback Hurries: 1 (at Arizona, 2021)
Cal Career (2020 – Present)
– Has played in 28 games with 15 starts in four seasons at Cal since his 2020 arrival
– Has contributed 59 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss (-28 yards), 4.0 sacks (-24 yards), two forced fumbles and one quarterback hurry
Junior (2023)
– Started each of the first two games before missing the final 11 due to injury
– Contributed two tackles and 1.0 tackle for loss (-2 yards)
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at North Texas (W, 58-21) – 2 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss (-2 yards)
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Auburn (L, 10-14) – played but did not record any statistics other than participation
Sophomore (2022)
– One of eight Cal players including four on defense to start all 12 games, which was his career high for starts and tied his career high for games played
– Contributed a career-high 36 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss (-6 yards) and 0.5 sacks (-5 yards)
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UC Davis (W, 34-13) – 2 tackles
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UNLV (W, 20-14) – 1 tackle
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at Notre Dame (L, 17-24) – 4 tackles
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Arizona (W, 49-31) – 1 tackle
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at Washington State (L, 9-28) – 3 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss (-5 yards), 0.5 sacks (-5 yards)
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at Colorado (L, 13-20, OT) – 4 tackles
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Washington (L, 21-28) – 3 tackles
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Oregon (L, 24-42) – 3 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss (-1 yard)
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at USC (L, 35-41) – 3 tackles
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at Oregon State (L, 10-38) – 4 tackles
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Stanford (W, 27-20) – 5 tackles ... career-high tackles
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UCLA (L, 28-35) – 3 tackles
Sophomore (2021)
– Played in a career-high-tying all 12 games including his first career start at Arizona
– Contributed 20 tackles, as well as career highs of 4.5 tackles for loss (career-high -20 yards), 3.5 sacks (career-high -19 yards), two forced fumbles and one quarterback hurry with the sacks and forced fumbles tied for second on the team
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Nevada - 1 tackle
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at TCU - 2 tackles
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Sacramento State - 2 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss (-1 yard) ... career high-tying tackles for loss
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at Washington - 1 tackle, 1.0 tackle for loss (-12 yards), 1.0 sack (-12 yards), 1 forced fumble ... career high tackle for loss and sack yards ... career high-tying sacks, tackles for loss and forced fumbles
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Washington State - 2 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss (-2 yards), 1.0 sack (-2 yards), 1 forced fumble ... career-high-tying tackles for loss, sacks and forced fumbles
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at Oregon - 2 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss (-2 yards), 0.5 sacks (-2 yards)
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Colorado - 2 tackles
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Oregon State - 2 tackles
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at Arizona - 3 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss (-3 yards), 1.0 sack (-3 yards), 1 quarterback hurry ... lone career quarterback hurry ... career-high-tying tackles for loss and sacks ... first career start
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at Stanford - 1 tackle
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at UCLA - played but did not record any statistics other than participation
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USC - 2
tackles
Freshman (2020)
– Played in each of the first two games off the bench before suffering a season-ending injury in a campaign shortened to four games by COVID
– Recorded one tackle in his Cal debut and season-opener at UCLA
Orange Vista HS (Class Of 2020)
– Recorded 52 tackles, 34.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks and one interception that he returned 16 yards, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup as a 2019 senior on defense, while adding two receptions for 12 yards and one touchdown as a tight end on offense for a team that finished 9-4 overall and reached the semifinals of the Southern Section Division 12 playoffs before an altercation on the field against their opponent Adelanto broke out during the game and caused a double forfeit that ended both of their seasons
– Named the Southern Section Division 13 Defensive Player of the Year and earned a first-team spot as a defensive lineman on the California Small Schools All-State team as a 2018 junior for a squad that finished 12-2 overall and 5-0 in the Inland Valley League to win a conference title and reach the finals of the Southern Section Division 13 playoffs
– Wore No. 5 in football
– Also played one season of varsity basketball as a 2017-18 sophomore
High School Stats (According To MaxPreps.com)
*
Some Statistics May Be Unavailable, Not Listed Or Not Included
Recruiting Notes And Ratings (As Of December 18, 2019)
Stars: 247Sports (3), ESPN (3), Rivals (3)
National Defensive Tackle Rankings: ESPN (87), 247Sports (100)
Regional Overall Player Rankings: ESPN (191)
California Overall Player Rankings: Rivals (88), ESPN (109), 247Sports (119)
Ratings/Scout Grades: 247Sports (0.8410), ESPN (74), Rivals (5.5)
Other
– Born July 22, 2002
– Son of Paul Saunders
– On track to graduate from Cal in the summer of 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in American studies
Last Updated
June 9, 2024
