Tag: C.J. Saunders

Falcons invite former OSU receiver C.J. Saunders to rookie minicamp

The Atlanta Falcons’ appear to be sticking with highly-paid veterans Matt Ryan and Julio Jones for another season, but without the salary cap room to make any major moves…

The Atlanta Falcons’ appear to be sticking with highly-paid veterans Matt Ryan and Julio Jones for another season, but without the salary cap room to make any major moves, the team will be forced to count on several rookies to play meaningful snaps.

One name to watch out for when rookie minicamp starts this Friday is former Ohio State wide receiver C.J. Saunders. As first reported by Dan Hope of Eleven Warriors, Saunders has been invited to Falcons rookie minicamp.

Once voted a team captain at Ohio State, Saunders missed the 2019 season with a knee injury and wasn’t granted an additional year of eligibility by the NCAA. Instead, the Buckeyes wideout was forced to take a role as a graduate assistant in 2020.

Saunders played 16 games at OSU, recording 27 catches for 294 yards and one touchdown. He also adds some special-teams ability, returning eight punts for 50 total yards and two punts for 25 yards.

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C.J. Saunders invited to Atlanta Falcons’ rookie minicamp

Former Ohio State wide receiver C.J. Saunders has accepted an invitation to participate in the Atlanta Falcons’ rookie minicamp.

Just one day after news broke that former Ohio State receiver C.J. Saunders had agreed to play in the Spring League, we get word based on a report from Eleven Warriors, that he has accepted an invite to the Atlanta Falcons’ rookie minicamp.

Saunders missed all of 2019 with a significant knee injury and was expected to be a part of the team in 2020 as a captain, but the NCAA did not grant him an extra year of eligibility. As a result, he stayed with the program as a graduate assistant.

He had hopes of receiving an undrafted free agent deal with an NFL team after the 2021 NFL draft, but one never came. Now though, Saunders will have a shot to impress in Atlanta and try to continue his dream of playing at the highest level.

Falcons rookie minicamp is set to take place from Friday, May 14, through Monday, May 16. You can bet we’ll keep tabs on how he and other former Buckeyes are doing.

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Ohio State receiver C.J. Saunders has NCAA waiver denied for extra year of eligibility

On a call Tuesday, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day confirmed that receiver C.J. Saunders’ bid for another year was denied by the NCAA.

I have to admit, this is a little surprising.

The fine folks at Ohio State held a conference call with reporters today. Part of the purpose was to announce and have available the captains for the 2020 season, but there were other things touched on as well.

One of those was the status of receiver C.J. Saunders. Most were a little baffled as to why he was not among the captains, being that he was a captain last year and has been a very vocal leader through the pandemic and social justice movement.

Well, we got our answer when it was revealed by head coach Ryan Day that Saunders’ appeal for another year of eligibility was denied. He had been seeking a sixth-year of eligibility because of a significant knee injury last season, something most thought was a foregone conclusion.

At the end of the day though, it appears the NCAA did not feel it was warranted and I for one will never understand why.

Day did say that OSU plans to add him to the coaching staff in some way, shape, or form so not all is lost.

Ohio State WR C.J. Saunders violating curfew misdemeanor charge dismissed

The misdemeanor charge of violating curfew was dismissed for Ohio State football receiver C.J. Saunders Thursday.

Ohio State wide receiver C.J. Saunder will not be faced with further criminal protection according to online court records. The sixth-year senior appeared in Franklin County Municipal Court Thursday for arraignment, where the judge dismissed the case with time served.

Saunders was arrested Monday night for violating a curfew the city of Columbus had imposed due to the protests following the tragic death of African American George Floyd while in police custody last week in Minneapolis. That curfew has been in place since last Saturday, and has been imposed between the hours of 10 PM and 6 AM.

According to Lettermen Row, Saunders spent the night in jail because his initial calls to post bond were not returned. After the $104 bond was posted, he then helped lead a “Kneel for Nine” peaceful protest with players and members of the athletic department the following day.

Saunders, a captain of the football team last year, is still awaiting word on another year of eligibility from the NCAA because of last year’s troubles with getting on the field because of nagging injuries.

Count us in the majority that believes dismissing this charge was in the best interest of everyone involved.

 

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WATCH: Ohio State athletic department, staff, police organize peaceful protest

In response to the killing of George Floyd, the OSU department, staff, and campus police staged a “Kneel for Nine” protest Tuesday. Watch.

Turning words into action is what’s going to change the way the African American community is treated in this country — notably by the police and other positions of power. The tragic death of George Floyd last week has set off what one can only hope is a wind of sweeping change in this country.

And Ohio State has been quick to embrace and embolden causes to move things forward. We’ve seen many players, coaches, and staff be active in voicing themselves on Twitter. We’ve also seen an incoming Ohio State basketball player, Seth Towns, get detained for participating in a peaceful protest. Even a white football player, C.J. Saunders, was arrested for violating a curfew put in place to deter some of the more violent protests we’ve seen.

And now this. Ohio State, as an athletic community came together on Tuesday night to stage an organized “Kneel for Nine” protest as a result of the George Floyd killing and racial inequality in this country. During these protests that have broken out over the world, protesters kneel for nine minutes to bring awareness to what has gone on in this country for far too long.

Several OSU players, coaches, staff, and members of the OSU police all participated, with football players Tuf Borland and C.J. Saunders leading some of the speaking.

You can watch a short clip of the protest thanks to a video shared by Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields on Twitter below.

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It’s great to see the Ohio State community and the players themselves unify over an issue that has gone on for far too long. It’s just a short video, but well worth your time.

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C.J. Saunders reportedly arrested after curfew in Columbus Monday night

According to a report from Eleven Warriors, Ohio State receiver C.J. Saunders was arrested by Columbus police for violating curfew Monday.

As first reported by Eleven Warriors, Ohio State wide receiver C.J. Saunders was arrested Monday night, about 45-minutes after a 10 PM curfew the city of Columbus imposed. The curfew had been implemented to try and mitigate some of the violence taking place as a result of the protests stemming from the tragic death of Geroge Floyd.

According to the police report obtained by Eleven Warriors, Saunders was walking from North High Street on West Northwood Avenue at around 10:45 PM when he was stopped by a Columbus Police officer for violating curfew.

Saunders is a sixth-year senior wide receiver who is still awaiting word from the NCAA for another year of eligibility because of an injury-plagued 2019. He was a captain on the team last year and figures to be one again if given the green light to play in 2020.

Saunders did post bond after being booked at the Franklin County Jail Tuesday. He is scheduled to be arraigned for a charge of violating a curfew Thursday morning, and — if convicted — the offense carries a fine of up to $1,000 and one-year of prison, though that is highly unlikely.

There has been no comment from the football team or athletic department yet, but when one becomes available, we will provide an update.

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