Top 2022 ATH Kaden Saunders Returning To Notre Dame This Fall

Kaden Saunders‍ and his teammates at Ohio’s Westerville South started camp the first day of August and started full contact a week later and the 2022 athlete is making the most of it.

“I’m just trying to get better with our team, get our chemistry up and get ready for the season,” Saunders told Irish Sports Daily.

In addition to playing receiver full-time, Saunders will be playing some cornerback as well as a sophomore. Despite being an underclassman, he’s one of a few youngsters on the squad who will be looking to lead.

“Our team’s goal is to be above .500 and I’m pretty sure we’ll get it,” he said. “And to get to the playoffs as well, which I’m pretty confident we can if we all work together.

“If our line holds up, we’ll be fine. I’m pretty sure we have better athletes than everybody we play.”

Saunders feels like he improved tremendously after his freshman season.

“I think I’m better at running my routes and my hands got stronger and I’m more physical than last year,” he said. “Last year, I was a baby compared to everybody. I was 145 pounds last year. I put on almost 15 pounds. I’m more physical, stronger and I’m pretty sure I got faster too.”

With offers from schools like Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Pitt, West Virginia and Nebraska and interest from programs like Notre Dame and Ohio State, Saunders knows opponents will be aiming to shut him down this year.

“I feel like I’m going to have a big target on my back,” he said. “Some teams are already talking about trying to hurt me and all of that. I just try to block that out and worry about myself and trying to help my team win.

“It gets me more motivated to keep working and getting better.”

Saunders was impressed by a visit to South Bend back in June.

“How prestigious of a school it is and how well the academics are,” he said of what he likes about Notre Dame. “That’s what my family is biggest on, academics. They offer good education and football and they put people in the NFL while providing good jobs after college too.”

And he already has plans to return.

“I’m for sure going to the USC game this fall,” he said. “I think that’s going to be nice. USC is a good program, Notre Dame is a good program. That game is going to be sweet.

“I want to see how the coaches coach the players during the game, how they make me feel and all of that kind of stuff.”

He has a busy schedule this fall with planned stops at Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, West Virginia, Penn State, Pitt and Ohio State.