Dec. 17, 2015
Three Commodore sophomores – linebacker Zach Cunningham, safety Oren Burks and running back Ralph Webb – have earned postseason recognition from Phil Steele publications.
Phil Steele, one of the nation’s most respected college football media outlets, named Cunningham to its third team All-America squad, and first team All-Southeastern Conference unit. The publication included Burks and Webb as third team All-SEC recipients.
Cunningham, a consensus All-SEC pick as a first-year starter, becomes the first Commodore to earn All-America honors since current Philadelphia Eagles’ wide receiver Jordan Matthews was recognized by various outlets in 2013. Cunningham also becomes the first Vanderbilt linebacker to garner All-America recognition since Jamie Winborn was honored in 1999.
Inclusion on Phil Steele’s All-SEC team marks the initial postseason accolades for Burks, a product of South County (Va.) H.S., and Webb, from Gainesville (Fla.) H.S.
In the last two weeks, Cunningham, a sophomore from Pinson Valley (Ala.) H.S., has been named first team All-SEC by the conference’s head coaches, the Associated Press and ESPN.com among others.
As a first-year starter in 2015, Cunningham ranked among SEC leaders in tackles for loss, solo tackles, total tackles, forced fumbles and fumble. Cunningham’s 16.5 tackles for loss was the most by a Commodore since Winborn registered 23 tackles for loss in 1999. His 69 solo-tackle total was the most by a Commodore since 2003.
Cunningham, who posted at least 10 tackles in seven of the last nine games, topped by a 12-solo tackle, 15-total tackle performance at Middle Tennessee, also shared the SEC lead with three fumble recoveries and ranked third in the league with four forced fumbles.
Burks started all 12 games as a second-year starting safety. He finished the year ranking among SEC leaders with three interceptions. He also posted single highs with 34 solo tackles and 58 total tackles.
Burks earned SEC defensive player of the week honors in mid-November after registering two interceptions in Vanderbilt’s conference victory over Kentucky.
Webb produced one of the finest rushing seasons ever in his second season as a starter. Webb set a new team sophomore record with 1,152 rushing yards, the second highest single-season total in Commodore history. Webb’s rush total came on 277 attempts, the most ever by a Vanderbilt back.
Webb stood out in SEC competition. He averaged 111.6 yards against the Commodores’ last five SEC opponents, including 149 yards in the finale at Tennessee. It marked the highest rushing total by a Vanderbilt back against Tennessee since 1974.
Webb has set freshman and sophomore rushing records. With two years of eligibility left, Webb ranks eighth on the Vanderbilt career rushing charts with 2,059 yards.
