#45

Khali Saunders

LB · Kent State · Sr. · #45

Kent State 2023 alumnus
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Khali Saunders

LB · Kent State · Sr · #45

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#817 national
CFB
College
2 teams
2021–2023
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted

Coaching Lineage · 2021–2023

2 coaches
2021
Kent State
2022
Kent State
2023
Kenni Burns
Kent State
era →

Coaching transition mid-career: Sean Lewis → Kenni Burns. Worth noting in scheme + development context.

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2021Purdue9-4HC: Jeff Brohm · Pass-leaning, fast tempo
2022Kent State5-7HC: Sean Lewis · Run-leaning
2023Kent State1-11HC: Kenni Burns · Run-leaning

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2023Kent State33131.00.011--
2022Kent State55265.01.521--
2021Purdue851.50.01----
Career96447.51.542--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 3 · 2023

W 38–10

vs Central Connecticut

3 TOT  ·  2 SOLO  ·  1 TFL

Dominant 28-point win at home against Central Connecticut.

How he plays

Play style

Is steady in every phase without a signature trait.

CFB Index positional classification

DNA match

Player DNA

Balanced Linebacker

Solid in every phase without a signature dimension.

LB

His 2023 production profile sits closest to Ryan Selig’s 2023 season.

Ryan Selig

77%match

Minnesota · 2023

#2

Steven Williams

Old Dominion · 2022

76%
#3

Dorian Mausi

Duke · 2022

76%
#4

Jayden McDonald

Virginia Tech · 2023

75%
#5

Alan Tisdale

Virginia Tech · 2022

73%

Matches Ryan on

Tackle volume
Solo tackle rate
TFL rate

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to J'Coryan Anderson's senior season at Marshall (2024).

Marshall · 2024

#2

Ryan Selig

Minnesota · 2023

84%
#3

Cody Moon

San Diego State · 2024

79%
#4

Dalton Hughes

South Alabama · 2025

78%
#5

Makari Paige

Michigan · 2023

77%

Matches J'Coryan on

TFL rate
Tackle volume
Hurry rate