Former Ohio State Wide Receiver, Coach C.J. Saunders Signs With Carolina Panthers
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Despite not playing in a collegiate football game the past two seasons, former Ohio State wide receiver C.J. Saunders has found his way onto an NFL team, signing with the Carolina Panthers.
Saunders played in 2017 and 2018 for the Buckeyes, but was never very productive, tallying a total of 27 catches for 294 yards and a touchdown across both seasons. His best year came in 2017, when he had 17 receptions for 221 yards and the lone score, which came against UNLV.
The former walk-on receiver eventually earned his scholarship with the team and became a captain, before an injury took out the entirety of his 2019 campaign. This past season, Saunders also worked from the sideline, this time as a student coach after he was denied eligibility by the NCAA.
But Saunders attempted to prove himself worthy of being an NFL talent despite two years off, working out at Ohio State’s pro day. He ran a 4.69-second 40-yard dash and had a 34.5-inch vertical.
On the Panthers, Saunders will be joining one former Buckeye in guard Pat Elflein, who signed a three-year deal with Carolina on March 17.