Nov. 21, 2016
Chicago – Vanderbilt standout Zach Cunningham has been named as a finalist for the Butkus Award, which honors the nation’s top linebacker.
Cunningham, a redshirt junior from Pinson, Ala., becomes the first Commodore linebacker named as a finalist for the Butkus Award, which honors the legendary University of Illinois and Chicago Bear linebacker.
The sponsoring Butkus Foundation will announce the 32nd Butkus Award winner on or before Dec. 6. A panel of 51 college and NFL coaches, pro scouting executives and journalists will determine the winner.
Cunningham, who is also in contention for Chuck Bednarik Award honors, has been sensational all season, ranking among the Southeastern Conference and NCAA leaders in numerous defensive categories. He has been also responsible for a superb highlight video resulting from several remarkable individual plays.
Entering the regular season finale this Saturday versus Tennessee, Cunningham leads all SEC defensive players with a career-high 109 tackles. It is the highest tackle total since former Vanderbilt linebacker and Cunningham’s current position coach Chris Marve produced 121 stops in 2009. Cunningham’s tackle total also ranks fifth in the NCAA.
Cunningham has been at his best in conference play, averaging 11.3 tackles per game. No other SEC player is averaging more than nine stops in league play.
Cunningham tops all linebackers nationally with 16.5 tackles for loss, and ranks second in the SEC in the category. Cunningham’s tackle for loss total matches a career high and is the most by a Commodore player since All-America linebacker Jamie Winborn posted 23 in the 1999 season.
Cunningham also shares the conference lead with three fumble recoveries, including a key recovery in Vanderbilt’s 38-17 victory over Ole Miss last Saturday. He also ranks third in the nation in the category.
Cunningham, a consensus First Team All-SEC performer last year, also is the first Commodore to post back-to-back seasons of more than 100 tackles since Winborn accomplished the feat in 1999-2000.
This season, Cunningham has created numerous highlight plays. In October, he registered a last-minute tackle for no gain of a Georgia ballcarrier on 4th-and-1 that clinched a Commodore road win. In another road appearance at Auburn in November, Cunningham stunningly leapt over the offensive line to block a short Tiger field goal attempt. Both plays have been among the most-talked about individual efforts this year in the conference.
Cunningham has registered at least 10 tackles in six games this year. His season high of 19 tackles at Georgia is the highest single-game total by a Commodore in 15 years.
In addition to the Butkus recognition, Cunningham has been named as a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award, given annually to the nation’s top defensive player. The Maxwell Football Club will announce Bednarik finalists later this month.
Joining Cunningham as Butkus Award finalists are Kendall Beckwith of LSU, Jarrad Davis of Florida, Reuben Foster of Alabama, and Iowa’s Josey Jewell.
