Dec. 6, 2016
Birmingham, Ala. – Vanderbilt linebacker Zach Cunningham, offensive tackle Will Holden and running back Ralph Webb have been selected All-Southeastern Conference by the league’s 14 head coaches.
The coaches voted Cunningham, a redshirt junior from Pinson Valley High School near Birmingham, to their First Team All-SEC for the second straight year. Holden, a senior from Green Cove Springs, Fla., and Webb, a redshirt junior from Gainesville, Fla., were first-time selections by the coaches, both earning Second Team All-SEC recognition.
Cunningham becomes the first Commodore to earn back-to-back first team all-conference honors from the coaches since wide receiver Jordan Matthews was selected in 2012-13. Webb is the first Commodore running back recognized since Zac Stacy was a second-team pick in 2012. Holden is the first Vanderbilt offensive lineman named since Wesley Johnson in 2013.
“I’m pleased the head coaches in our league recognized how well Zach, Will and Ralph have played this year. All three are very deserving of All-SEC recognition,” Vanderbilt Head Coach Derek Mason. “These guys have performed at a very high level and have meant a great deal to our squad.”
The trio will lead the 6-6 Commodores into the postseason for the first time in three years when Vanderbilt plays N.C. State in the 41st Camping World Independence Bowl on Dec. 26 in Shreveport, La.
Cunningham ranked among the league leaders in numerous statistical categories for the second consecutive year. A finalist for the Butkus Award and semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, Cunningham topped all SEC defensive players with 119 total tackles and four fumble recoveries, ranked second with 68 solo stops, and third with 16 tackles for loss.
Cunningham’s tackle total is the most by a Vanderbilt player since current Commodore inside linebacker coach Chris Marve registered 121 tackles in 2009. Cunningham enters the Independence Bowl 19 tackles total ahead runnerup Jordan Jones of Kentucky.
Cunningham’s 68 unassisted tackles is just one off his 2015 season total. The last Commodore to register more solo tackles than Cunningham was All-SEC linebacker Moses Osemwegie, who had 83 solo stops in 2005.
Cunningham matched his single-season high in tackles for loss. Only two former players have produced more tackles for loss than Cunningham in a single season: linebacker Jamie Winborn in 1999 and lineman Alan Young in 1993.
Cunningham also is just one fumble recovery shy of the Vanderbilt single-season record of five set by Reginald Calvin in 1977.
Holden started all 12 games for the Commodores at left tackle, serving the critical role of protecting quarterback Kyle Shurmur’s blindside. He has now started 24 consecutive games at the position, and has 34 career starts as a Commodore lineman.
Along with fellow senior Barrett Gouger, Holden accepted a greater leadership role on the Commodore offensive front when a third senior and projected starter, Andrew Jelks, went down with a season-ending leg injury for the second straight year.
Holden contributed nearly 30 pancake blocks and 16 domination blocks this year, and was recognized for SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors after a stellar performance in Vanderbilt’s 38-17 victory over Ole Miss in November.
Webb became Vanderbilt’s all-time rushing leader during another superb campaign for the three-year starting running back.
This season, Webb posted a single-season high with 1,172 rushing yards – and needs just 22 yards in the Independence Bowl to eclipse Stacy’s team record total of 1,193 rushing yards from 2011. Earlier this year, Webb broke Stacy’s all-time rushing mark and enters the postseason with 3,234 career rushing yards.
Webb, who surpassed 100 rushing yards in six games this season, also has 12 rushing touchdowns on the year. It marks the third highest single-season total in team history and is just two behind the school record set by Stacy in 2011 and Jerron Seymour in 2013.
Several other Commodores, including record-breaking kick returner Darrius Sims, received reconsideration for all-league honors.
The entire 2016 Coaches’ All-SEC Team follows:
ALL-SEC FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback – Jalen Hurts, Alabama
Running Backs – Kamryn Pettway, Auburn; Derrius Guice, LSU
Wide Receivers – Christian Kirk, Texas A&M; ArDarius Stewart, Alabama
Tight End – Evan Engram, Ole Miss
Offensive Line – Cam Robinson, Alabama; Dan Skipper, Arkansas; Avery Gennesy, Texas A&M; Will Clapp, LSU
Center – Ethan Pocic, LSU
All-Purpose – Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
DEFENSE
Defensive Line – Jonathan Allen, Alabama; Derek Barnett, Tennessee; Carl Lawson, Auburn; Myles Garrett, Texas A&M
Linebackers – Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt; Reuben Foster, Alabama; Kendell Beckwith, LSU
Defensive Backs – Jalen Tabor, Florida; Tre’Davious White, LSU; Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama; Aarion Penton, Missouri
SPECIALISTS
Kicker – Daniel Carlson, Auburn
Punter – JK Scott, Alabama
Return Specialist – Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
ALL-SEC SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks – * Chad Kelly, Ole Miss, *Joshua Dodds, Tennessee
Running Backs – Rawleigh Williams III, Arkansas; *Ralph Webb, Vanderbilt; *Leonard Fournette, LSU
Wide Receivers – Calvin Ridley, Alabama; Fred Ross, Mississippi State
Tight End – O.J. Howard, Alabama
Offensive Line – Braden Smith, Auburn; Will Holden, Vanderbilt; Martez Ivey, Florida; Alex Kozan, Auburn
Center – Jon Toth, Kentucky
All-Purpose – Derrius Guice, LSU
DEFENSE
Defensive Line – Arden Key, LSU; Montravius Adams, Auburn; Charles Harris, Missouri; Caleb Brantley, Florida
Linebackers – Tim Williams, Alabama; Jarrad Davis, Florida; Jordan Jones, Kentucky
Defensive Backs – Jamal Adams, LSU; Eddie Jackson, Alabama; Quincy Wilson, Florida; Justin Evans, Texas A&M
SPECIALISTS
Kicker – Gary Wunderlich, Ole Miss
Punter – Johnny Townsend, Florida
Return Specialist – Evan Berry, Tennessee
* – ties
