Richie Saunders: The Tater Tot Heir
Who is the BYU player that has captured America's attention, and what is his connection to tater tots? Let’s talk about Ore-Ida’s heir.
Richie Saunders making it to the Sweet Sixteen (Getty Images)
Brigham Young University’s forward has impressed fans throughout the 2024-2025 season. However, since BYU's run to the Sweet 16, even more people are buzzing about him—not just for his basketball skills.
Life Before 2025
Richie Saunders, a 23-year-old basketball sensation, has been a player for BYU since 2022. Growing up with four older sisters, he found his passion for the game early on. Richie committed to BYU in 2019 but began his college career after serving a mission in Washington State for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Now a junior, he has established himself with the Cougars. During his sophomore year at BYU, he married Sierra Johnson, who played for the BYU women's basketball team during the 2022-2023 season. Together, they have become one of the sweetest basketball couples.
Richie and Sierra after getting engaged (@rsaunders15)
During his sophomore season in 2023-2024, Richie achieved a career-high of 20 points in games against Georgia State and Iowa State. He also scored in double digits 15 times throughout the season, solidifying his impact on the team. While his sophomore year was filled with many highlights, this season showcased Richie’s skills and potential.
Junior Year Breakout
March Madness has arrived, and college basketball fans are focused on the three B's: Brackets, bets, and BYU. Richie Saunders and his teammates have not only made it to the Big 12 this season but have also secured a spot in the NCAA March Madness Tournament. This past Saturday, the sixth-seeded BYU Cougars achieved a thrilling two-point victory against the third-seeded Wisconsin Badgers, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2011. The team's 6-foot-5 player, known as the 'Tater Tot King,' scored an impressive 25 points. We are eager to see what happens next as they prepare to face the second-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide this Thursday. But what about the tater tots?
Richie and His Connection to the Potato
On March 10th, 2025, a tweet about Richie Saunders and his great-grandfather surfaced. It explained that Francis Nephi Grigg, Saunders' great-grandfather, invented the small, round potato. F. Nephi Grigg is not only the inventor of the tater tot but also the founder of Ore-Ida. With that information buzzing around social media, Richie has earned the title “the king of tater tots.”
As Richie approaches the Sweet 16, Ore-Ida has decided to take advantage of fans' obsession with tater tots. Just ten days after their viral tweet, Ore-Ida introduced their latest creation, the "TOT CLOCK." If BYU wins this Thursday, basketball and tater tots fans can visit the Ore-Ida Instagram bio to claim an offer for a free bag of tots. Their official NIL deal with the "Tot King" has taken over our social media feeds, and we find this sports collaboration makes us hungry for some tots!
Richie Saunders NIL Deal with Ore-Ida (@oreida and @rsaunders15)
With high stakes this upcoming Thursday, we wish you luck for whoever you’re rooting for—though we can all agree that some crispy tater tots sound delicious.