BYU’s Richie Saunders Embraces Tater Tot Fame

BYU basketball junior guard Richie Saunders has become a social media sensation due to his connection with tater tots.

Already a fan favorite for his impressive play, earning First Team All-Big 12 honors, Saunders’ association with tater tots has propelled him to even greater recognition.

Tater Tot Star

The story gained significant traction during the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City. Now, as the NCAA Tournament begins, the spotlight on Saunders is only growing.

If BYU goes on a deep run in the “Big Dance,” it’s likely that Saunders’ family history with the invention of tater tots will make more headlines, especially as he competes on a larger stage in the NCAA Tournament.

Saunders chuckled when asked about his newfound fame during the tournament.

“It’s hilarious. I don’t know where that came from. It just came out of nowhere,” Saunders said.

“My great-grandpa founded Ore-Ida, the company behind the tater tot. I’m not even sure how it all began. Maybe Tyson (Jex) knows. It just sort of took off, and we’ve been laughing about it at home while eating plenty of tater tots.”

The story went viral when Michael Mower, Senior Advisor for Governor Spencer J. Cox, tweeted about the connection on X.

Saunders’ great-grandfather, F. Nephi Grigg, was a co-founder of Ore-Ida Potatoes.

In response to Sam Farnsworth’s video, which featured Saunders talking about his tater tot connection, Ore-Ida tweeted, “When the tot king speaks, we listen.”

BYU Fans Get in on the Fun

BYU fans are enjoying the tater tot tale. Orem’s Chubby’s, a restaurant filled with BYU memorabilia near University Mall, is adding tater tots to their menu for a limited time during BYU’s March Madness run.

BYU vs. VCU

First Round – 2025 NCAA Tournament

Location: Denver, Colorado

Arena: Ball Arena

Tip-Off: 2:05 p.m. (MDT)

TV: TNT

Radio: KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM, 1160 AM in Utah – Extended pregame starts at Noon)