Stone Saunders clapped his hands a moment too soon.
Maybe that was to be expected.
Saunders never saw the field last year as a freshman quarterback at Kentucky. He transferred to San Diego State looking for an opportunity, but his development was delayed by a broken collarbone suffered during the closing minutes in a season-opening blowout.
Saunders spent the next month on the mend, waiting, watching, wondering.
So, yeah, Saunders was a little eager to get going when he replaced injured starting quarterback Jayden Denegal midway through the second quarter last week against Fresno State.
Saunders clapped his hands a moment too soon and center Isaac Lucas snapped the ball before in-motion tight end Kime Fangupo was clear. The ball bounced loose after hitting Fangupo in the arm, Fresno State recovered the fumble and the turnover turned into a touchdown.
Returning to the sideline after the fumble, Saunders approached SDSU coach Sean Lewis.
“That was 100% my fault,” Saunders said. “(Fangupo) was supposed to get to the other side. Anxiety might have gotten me.”
The next time in the huddle, Saunders told his teammates, “I’ve got you guys. I won’t do that again.”
This week at Colorado State (2-4, 0-2 Pac-12), Saunders is expected to make his first start for the Aztecs (3-4, 2-1). Denegal has been listed as questionable because of an ankle injury suffered against the Bulldogs, and Saunders has been taking first-team reps all week.
“It doesn’t get any more egregious or poor than it did on his first snap, and it was kind of water off a duck’s back,” Lewis said. “You don’t know how guys are going to respond until you’re in the foxhole with them.
“He was like, ‘Coach, that was dumb.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s not do that again.’ There was almost a humor to it, like, it’s not going to get worse than that.”
It got better.
Saunders directed two fourth-quarter scoring drives in the Aztecs’ 26-23 victory.
The quarterback credited Lewis and SDSU offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Matt Johnson for his preparation.
“They’ve worked with me and trained me ever since I got here,” Saunders said after practice this week. They got me ready. I felt ready to go in. I knew the game plan going in. I never really felt nervous.
“The guys were helping me out. The run game was super strong, so that was awesome to play behind. I’ve always been composed. I don’t ever get too high or too low. Obviously, I love to show emotion. I love to get fired up with the guys after we score and get on the sideline.”
San Diego State’s Stone Saunders works out during a practice on March 24, 2026 in San Diego, CA. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Saunders’ numbers were modest against Fresno State. He completed 6 of 11 passes for 61 yards. But he was poised and composed, considering his collegiate game experience consisted of 16 plays at the end of SDSU’s 53-20 win over Portland State.
If the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Saunders seems more comfortable than most in the moment, it is because he has experienced the game at its highest level since childhood.
His father, Steve Saunders, spent seven seasons as strength and conditioning coach for the Baltimore Ravens, beginning when Stone was 9 years old.
“I grew up around it,” said Saunders, 20, a redshirt freshman from Harrisburg, Pa. “I was able to go into the Ravens’ facilities. I remember during the season they would have Saturday walk-throughs and I was able to go in and play catch with the guys. In high school, I was able to get on Zoom calls with some of the offensive staff and they would watch film with me.”
Saunders got to train a few times with Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson and throw to Ravens receivers. One of his most memorable moments was joining his father at the 2020 Pro Bowl.
“I got to throw to the D-line Pro Bowlers (during a drill),” Saunders said. “So it was like TJ Watt and stuff. That was pretty awesome.”
San Diego State quarterback Stone Saunders passes as Fresno State’s Jahzon Jacks provides pressure at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Obviously, his father’s connections brought those opportunities. His knowledge also came in handy when it came to training.
“He’s just done so much for me,” said Saunders, whose father is now director of football sports performance at the University of Utah. “Obviously, he knows a lot about football. It’s great having him in my corner.”
Saunders’ experience has boosted his football IQ. He seems mature beyond his years.
“When guys get to the collegiate level and all they have experienced is recruiting trips, they haven’t really been exposed to or immersed in it, the way a coach’s kid has,” Lewis said. “Things that might be a little bit jarring, the urgency and intensity of each day; for him, this is how it is. The standard is not new to him. I think that helps him acclimate.
“That’s kind of cool to be able to be around those guys and be, ‘hey, this is normal.’ He’s had some pretty unique experiences to you and me, but that’s just his childhood. So he’s used to that.”
Bishop McDevitt quarterback Stone Saunders slips away from the pass rush of Exeter’s Joel Ummarino in the Crusaders’ 48-14 District 3 Class 5A final victory on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, at Elco High School. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
Saunders had more than his share of big moments in high school.
He was a four-star recruit coming out of Bishop McDevitt High School, where he set Pennsylvania state records for passing yards (13,719), touchdowns (204) and completions (781) over his four-year varsity career. The 204 career touchdown passes rank third all-time nationally.
Saunders guided Bishop McDevitt to two state championships (2022 and 2024) as well as state runner-up (2021) and state semifinal (2023) finishes.
Coincidentally, Bishop McDevitt is the same high school that Johnson attended. Some of the passing records Saunders broke had belonged to Johnson.
“He threw the ball a lot more than I did, though; I want that on the record,” Johnson joked during training camp. “Stone, to me, is a guy who has the arm to touch the entire field … He does a really good job of attacking his work off the field so that his feet are matching what he’s seeing with his eyes.”
What about Saunders’ skill set will help him succeed when he’s on the field?
“I think the ability to get the ball to my playmakers,” Saunders said. “Just playing with the guys around me, making them great and having them make the plays for me.”