Kaden Saunders injury update: What's the latest on the Penn State returner, and how is Zion Tracy filling in so far?
Penn State was first without punt returner and receiver Kaden Saunders during its 27-11 win over UCLA earlier this month. The redshirt sophomore from Ohio was seen on the sideline before and during the game in his regular No. 7 jersey, and he was sporting a walking boot on his right foot. It forced Penn State to turn to a pair of punt returners. Walk-on Jake Spencer received the Bruins’ first punt. Then, defensive back Zion Tracy took over from there. A week later, at USC, Spencer did not make the trip, nor did Saunders, and Tracy handled all punt return duties. The first update on Saunders and Spencer since came during Tuesday night’s post-practice interview session.
“Hopefully we’ll be getting Kaden [Saunders] back at some point,” Franklin said. “Hopefully Zion continues to grow, which I think he will. Hopefully we’ll get Jake Spencer back as well, another guy that’s caught punts in college games before as well.”
The nature of Saunders’ and Spencers’ injuries is currently unclear. The same goes for their potential timeline to return.
Tracy will handle Penn State punt return work for now
Penn State likes Tracy’s potential as a punt returner. The second-year Nittany Lion was very good at defensive back in the Lions’ win over the Trojans. On special teams in Los Angeles, he recorded one return for one yard, fair caught another punt, and let one bounce that drew immediate coaching from Franklin on the sideline.
“I think he did a nice job in the most important part of the job, which is catching [a punt],” Franklin said. “I thought there was one that he let get to the ground that he needs to catch [at USC]. I do think as he gets more comfortable, more confident doing that, then he’ll have the ability to make some more plays for us. But as you know, we’ve been kind of working through that all year long.
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“So, solid, but right now, I think we’re doing a really good job on special teams. If you look at us, like punt return, I don’t think anybody’s gotten a yard this year on punt return. That’s based on coverage. That’s also based on how we’re punting the ball. So I think we’re doing a really good job of limiting explosive plays and game-changing plays on special teams. Now we got to start to make a few of our own.”
Penn State is one of only three teams to allow zero yards or less in punt coverage so far. However, it ranks 112th in punt return average. Penn State hopes Tracy can be a catalyst for change in that department moving forward.
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