KU hopes to make ISU its first Big 12 victim

Fresh off graduating from Florida State University, where he spent four seasons within the nationally renowned football program, tight end Mavin Saunders plans to finish his college career playing for Kansas.

The 6-foot-5, 256-pound Bimini, Bahamas native confirmed to the Journal-World he decided to transfer to KU after visiting Lawrence this past weekend.

The former Seminole said he plans to enroll at Kansas for the spring semester. As a grad transfer, he would become eligible immediately.

After visiting the facilities and meeting the coaching staff, Saunders said he thinks KU is an up-and-coming program.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to help,” he added.

The only tight end heavily involved in KU’s offense in 2017 was Ben Johnson, who made 30 catches for 363 yards in his senior season.

Other tight ends on the KU roster with eligibility remaining are Kenyon Tabor, who will be a redshirt freshman next season, juniors-to-be Moses Marshall IV and James Sosinski, and Ryen Renick, who will be a redshirt sophomore in 2018.

Saunders played in 10 games in his final year with the Seminoles but didn’t record a catch. He made 10 receptions for 182 yards in his redshirt sophomore season, of 2016.

Playing in eight games in 2015, Saunders recorded six catches for 52 yards. He took a medical redshirt in 2014, his first year on the FSU campus.

Rivals rated Saunders a three-star prospect out of high school. Other recruiting services, such as ESPN and 247Sports, listed him as a four-star talent.

Following his senior prep season at The Kinkaid School, in Houston, Rivals ranked him the No. 14 tight end in the country.

Before signing with FSU, Saunders also reportedly had offers from Ohio State, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and several other Power Five programs.

Saunders announced after Florida State’s season concluded in November he planned to transfer elsewhere to finish his career. On Monday, he thanked FSU fans and wished his former teammates well going forward, in a note he posted to Twitter.