Active #2 Saunders, David, WR/LB

PROFESSIONAL
David Saunders is in his eighth season in the AFL, his first with the Rattlers, and most recently played with the Tampa Bay Storm. He has amassed 441 catches for 4,949 yards and 118 touchdowns in 101 games. Saunders started this season in his second stint with Tampa Bay and played in four games. He made 12 catches for 132 yards and ranked third on the team with five touchdown catches. He even played against the Rattlers in Tampa on April 13, making three catches for 26 yards. In 2007, Saunders played his second season with the Columbus Destroyers. He played in 11 games and had a 19 game touchdown streak from Mar. 3, 2006 at New York to June 8, 2007 vs. Kansas City. He finished the season with 68 receptions for 550 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns, ranking second on the team in all categories. At linebacker, he finished 12th on the team in tackles with 11. He played in ArenaBowl XXI and caught three passes for 21 yards and a touchdown. In 2006 with Columbus, he set career highs with 837 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns and made 24 tackles on the season. In 2005, Saunders was traded to Grand Rapids after starting the season with Tampa Bay. With the Rampage, he played in five games and caught 15 balls for 161 yards and two touchdowns. He played in the first six games with the Storm before the trade, catching 29 balls for 309 yards and five touchdowns and had 8.5 tackles and an interception at linebacker. In 2004 with the Storm, he played in 11 games and made 41 catches for 484 yards and nine touchdowns, all good for fourth on the team, while getting 17 tackles. In his second season with the Storm in 2003, Saunders played in 11 games and made 38 receptions for 440 yards and 11 touchdowns. In 2002, he was signed by the storm and was named Team MVP after leading the team with 14 touchdowns, and was second with 53 catches and 610 yards receiving. He also led the Storm in their first two playoff games with 10 catches for 156 yards and four touchdowns. Saunders played for the New Jersey Gladiators in 2001, making 55 catches for 760 yards, and 18 touchdowns. After taking two years off from football after college, Saunders joined the AFL and played his rookie season with the New Jersey Red Dogs. He played 12 games, making 60 catches for 727 yards and 20 touchdowns. He made 24 tackles and two interceptions, both of which he returned for touchdowns.

COLLEGE
Saunders played for West Virginia from 1994-1998 where he’s considered one of the greatest receivers in team history. He is the all-time leader in career receiving yards with 2,608 and receptions with 191 despite missing his junior season. As a senior in 1998, he tied a single-season school record with 77 catches, had 883 yards, and his eight touchdowns ranks third all-time in Mountaineer history. He tied a school record with 12 catches against Miami and played the final game of his career in the Insight.com Bowl, recording eight catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns. He earned All-Big East second-team and All-ECAC first team honors. Saunders did not play during his junior season in 1997. In 1996, as a sophomore, Saunders led the Mountaineers with 76 catches for 1,043 and five touchdowns, becoming the first player in school history to gain over 1,000 yards receiving in a season. He led the Big East with his average of 83 receiving yards a game and 6.1 receptions per game. His 191-yards against Boston College ranks third on the school’s single game list, and earned team MVP honors with his performance against North Carolina in the Gator Bowl. He was named first-team All-Big East. In 1995, as a freshman, Saunders earned a starting position and led the team with 38 catches for 682 yards and five touchdowns, the latter being school records for a freshman. He red-shirted in 1994 and played on the scout team.

HIGH SCHOOL/PERSONAL
Saunders was born on January 31, 1976 in Toledo, Ohio and played at Palatine High School. He was a first-team All-State selection in the Illinois big school division. He caught 108 balls for 1,807 yards with 28 touchdowns during his career. As a senior, he caught 51 passes for 768 yards when he also played defensive back and punter. He played basketball and ran track as well. His favorite school subject was math and his favorite hobbies are playing basketball and traveling. Saunders says that Ray Lewis is the best player he’s ever played against. Scarface is his favorite movie and he is a talented cook.