Viral NFL hopeful makes job choice
Back-flipping Saunders remained at Senior Bowl as fiancee went into labor
MOBILE, Ala. – Kambridge Vonyea Saunders wasn’t due until Jan. 31.
So when her dad, Khalen, headed to the Senior Bowl to show scouts what he could do after his career at Western Illinois, he figured he’d wow scouts with his versatility, mingle with NFL teams in person and head home before his baby girl arrived.
Instead, Kambridge arrived Tuesday on Khalen’s first day of practice.
The defensive lineman prospect decided to stay in Alabama as his fiancée went into labor Monday night. He didn’t view this as choosing football over family.
“It’s not an either-or situation,” Saunders told USA TODAY on Tuesday afternoon. “It’s a cause and effect. I’m having a daughter, and if I can’t provide for her, that makes me a bad father. So I’m going to do anything I can to provide for my children.”
His fiancee, Ayanna Hall, encouraged that decision.
The main factor, per Saunders: his small-school background. Scouts and reporters don’t come to Macomb, Illinois, often to assess talent. Saunders joked that not only could NFL personnel not fly into the town with fewer than 10,000 students, but parking is also tricky. No surprise the Senior Bowl had never invited a Leatherneck to the highprofile pre-draft event.
So 18 sacks, 341⁄ tackles for loss, 127 tackles and six forced fumbles could only send the first message on paper. And that acrobatic knack that went viral last week when ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted a clip of the agile 320-pounder who mastered the flip at the park when he was 8 years old?
“It’s one of those talents like riding a bike,” Saunders said. “Once you learn how to do it, you don’t forget how.
“I take pride in being above average, as far as my athleticism, at my position. (But) I don’t want to be known as a gym- nast. I want to be known as an exceptional football player.”
And one dedicated to the sport, too. Saunders wanted to send that message by staying in Alabama despite shaking with excitement Monday night as the reality of fatherhood crept close. He said the move is yet more proof he loves football like he loves family.
He points to choosing Western Illinois over track and field offers from Wisconsin, Notre Dame and Missouri as more evidence. Saunders wanted to play football, and the other schools offered the St. Louis native only a scholarship for shot put.
“My height, they thought that’d be an ailment,” said Saunders, standing at 6-2 now. “As we can see today if I’m here, it hasn’t.”
Nor was it an ailment to another round-off back tuck to end practice Tuesday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, enthusiastic cheers erupting from teammates as Saunders landed seamlessly.
No flash intended, he said, just a chance to further raise his profile and support his growing family as he waits to meet the newest member. Saunders is still trying to grasp what fatherhood means.
What he does know?
“I love to love,” Saunders said. “I’m not a super emotional guy, but this is one of those things that I think will make me really appreciate life and really appreciate living.
“I’m just excited to meet her and can’t wait to get back and meet my baby girl.”