When Treyvhon Saunders took the field against Richmond on Oct. 11, nobody expected it to be the final time he would be outfitted in his Colgate uniform. It was never supposed to end the way it did.
The star receiver took a short pass from quarterback Jake Stearney for an 18-yard gain on 2nd-and-13. When he was tackled, he felt an intense pain above his left ankle.
He had fractured his fibula.
The first 17 yards of the play were an encapsulation of why Colgate fans had grown so fond of the Columbus, Ohio native. Every time he touched the ball, it felt like something magical was about to happen.
Through the five games before the injury, he was on pace for 117 receptions, 1,636 yards and 14 touchdowns. Had he continued on that trajectory, Saunders would have finished in first or second place on the single-season Patriot League record book in each of those stats.
Not only would he have led FCS in receptions and receiving yards, he would have recorded the best season in the history of the Patriot League. According to Saunders, it wasn’t just about making history - it was about reaching expectations.
“Me and my dad, before the season we actually circled those numbers as goals to achieve,” he said. “To be cut short, it hurts a little bit but at the same time I know there’s more out for me in terms of my legacy.”
In the blink of an eye, those goals became unattainable. He was supposed to be sprinting into the end zone that evening and celebrating with his teammates. Instead, his mind was racing. In the immediate aftermath of the injury, he wasn’t sure what was next.
“Of course my head went to the NFL,” he said. “But first it went to not being able to play with my teammates anymore and finish my senior season.”
Once he was able to gather himself, he began to accept the situation. He was focused on getting his mind right. Not only for his rehab, but for his teammates as well.
Saunders had been named a captain during his junior season. He believed it was because of the example and standard set by his play. He was no longer able to lead on the field. He needed to find his voice.
He did just that.
Enter coach Saunders.
During practice, he would watch fellow slot receivers Brady Hutchinson and Max Walters run routes. After each drill, he quickly reviewed his observations. Saunders would suggest a different way to run a route or attack a coverage. Even with a boot on his foot, he was trying to help his team win.
“I’m finding new avenues to just pour as much as I can into them,” he said.
On gamedays, Saunders donned a headset on the sidelines. He was on the horn with coaches, discussing what he saw in real time.
“We’re going through what coverages they’re in,” he said. “What player they’re bringing in for certain downs, if they have different packages for different downs and things of that nature.”
When Curt Fitzpatrick was named Colgate football’s next head coach in December of 2024, one of his first calls was to Saunders. The receiver was in the transfer portal at the time, uncertain of what the future would hold in the midst of a regime change. Fitzpatrick knew he couldn’t lose him.
“Being a leader at Colgate and finishing what he started was important to him,” Fitzpatrick said. “He doesn’t speak much, but when he does his teammates really listen to him.”
The two spoke for the first time on Christmas Eve. It didn’t take long for Saunders to cancel visits he had lined up with FBS schools. He had bought into Fitzpatrick’s vision and was comfortable staying home.
He always wanted to stay anyway.
When Saunders isn’t scooting around the practice field or working towards his economics degree in the classroom, he’s working with the training staff to get his body back in shape.
He visits the training room three or four times every day. He has his eyes set on the NFL and had numerous scouts reach out with interest before the injury. When those same scouts continued calling after his season was over, Saunders’ confidence soared.
“What I did on that field showed enough,” he said. “I have to do the next job to get back right and to prove that I am the same player I was before.”
In collaboration with the Colgate training staff, Saunders created a roadmap for his recovery timeline. He’s itching to get back out on the field. He might get his wish sooner than expected.
“My scars look good, my foot isn’t as swollen as it should be,” he said. “I’m ahead of schedule.”
Saunders is gearing up to impress at his pro day. However, there is a chance he could be able to participate in all-star games like the East-West Shrine Bowl if his recovery continues to accelerate.
Fitzpatrick recalled a conversation with Saunders just after the latter met with his surgeon for the first time. Even before he was on an operating table, it was obvious that Saunders was going to do all he could to return earlier than anticipated.
“They gave him a timeline for when he would be back running… I think it was like four months or something and (Saunders) said he would be back in three,” Fitzpatrick said. “I wouldn’t doubt him getting back to exactly (what he was).”
While he wants to return to form as soon as possible, Saunders knows not to look too far ahead. It was a challenge at first, but he’s learned how to find silver linings in every moment.
“The beauty of this rehab is it makes you understand to be patient,” he said.
When Colgate football announcer Terry Dow saw Saunders’ injury, he was devastated. He had a deep admiration for the star receiver. He doesn’t want that play against Richmond to be the final image of Saunders’ football career.
Dow doesn’t think football fans have seen the last of Treyvhon Saunders. The senior receiver agrees.
“Just know I’ll be back.”
