Penn State WR Kaden Saunders Enters Transfer Portal After Injury-Plagued Career
Penn State wide receiver Kaden Saunders is hitting the reset button on his college football journey.
The redshirt junior announced on Wednesday that he’s entering the transfer portal as a graduate transfer with at least two years of eligibility remaining. It’s a fresh start for a player who came to State College with high expectations but was ultimately sidelined more than he saw the field.
Saunders, a 5-foot-10, 184-pound receiver from Columbus, Ohio, missed the entire 2025 season due to injury. It was the second straight year injuries derailed his progress - he played in just three games in 2024 and didn’t record a catch. Despite the setbacks, Saunders stayed engaged, grinding through rehab and suiting up for bowl prep practices with the Nittany Lions this December.
“Missed the season with the guys… Countless rehab hours… Felt good to get back in the pads for bowl prep,” Saunders wrote on social media earlier this week. “The work continues.”
And now, that work continues elsewhere.
Saunders’ most productive stretch in blue and white came back in 2023. That season, he caught six passes for 56 yards and scored his lone career touchdown - a memorable grab against Ohio State. That touchdown still stands as the last one caught by a Penn State wide receiver against the Buckeyes, with no Nittany Lion wideout finding the end zone in the rivalry over the past two seasons.
In total, Saunders finishes his Penn State career with eight receptions for 77 yards and that single score. It’s a modest stat line, but it doesn’t tell the full story of a player who was once one of the most highly-touted recruits in the country. A former four-star prospect, Saunders was ranked No. 56 overall in his class by 247Sports and was considered a top-five wide receiver nationally.
His departure comes as Penn State’s wide receiver room undergoes a reshaping under new head coach Matt Campbell. The Nittany Lions have already added transfers Trevor Peña, Devonte Ross, and Kyron Hudson to bolster the position group, while returners Liam Clifford and Koby Howard remain key depth pieces.
Campbell and his staff have wasted no time stabilizing the roster since taking over, retaining foundational players like interior lineman Cooper Cousins, right tackle Anthony Donkoh, and tight end Andrew Rappleyea. With the transfer portal officially opening Friday for a 15-day window, Saunders is among the first wave of movement as Penn State begins its next chapter under new leadership.
In his farewell message, Saunders expressed deep appreciation for his time in Happy Valley.
“Forever grateful for my time at Penn State. Thank you to all the coaches, staff, and especially my teammates for an incredible four years,” he wrote.
“The relationships and memories I’ve made here will stay with me for life. Penn State helped shape me on and off the field, and I’ll always carry that with me.”
He also gave a heartfelt shoutout to his family for their constant support through the ups and downs of his college career.
Now, Saunders looks ahead to what’s next - a new team, a new opportunity, and a chance to finally show what he can do when healthy. For a player with his pedigree and determination, the next stop could be where it all comes together.