Nov. 28, 2016
Vanderbilt standout linebacker Zach Cunningham added to his expanding list of accolades Monday, sharing Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors for another remarkable performance in the Commodores’ 45-34 victory over Tennessee Saturday.
Cunningham, a redshirt junior inside linebacker from Pinson, Ala., contributed 10 total tackles, including nine unassisted stops, a key forced fumble, fumble recovery and defensed pass to spark Vanderbilt’s second-half defensive effort that limited the Vols to three points.
Cunningham shared the SEC weekly honor with Kentucky safety Mike Edwards. It was Cunningham’s second SEC defensive player of the week recognition this year. He also captured the honor after a 19-tackle performance at Georgia Oct. 15.
Quarterback Kyle Shurmur and center Barrett Gouger also earned consideration for SEC Offensive Player of the Week and Offensive Lineman of the Week honors, respectively, after the Commodores’ third victory over Tennessee in the last five years.
The impressive victory over a ranked Tennessee squad upped Vanderbilt’s record to 6-6, and made the Commodores bowl eligible for the first time since the 2013 season.
For Cunningham, the honors are piling up. Besides two SEC defensive player of the week honors, Cunningham has been voted among five linebackers nationwide as a Butkus Award finalist. A semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award given to the nation’s top defensive player, Cunningham also also earned Midseason All-America recognition from four outlets: SI.com, Sporting News, FoxSports.com and CBSSports.com.
Cunningham’s 10 tackles against Tennessee increased his season total to 119, the most by a Commodore since 2009. The total tops all SEC defenders and ranks eighth in the NCAA. It was Cunningham’s seventh performance this year of 10 tackles or more.
Cunningham also produced one of the biggest defensive plays against Tennessee, stripping Vol quarterback Josh Dodds of the ball on the final play in the third quarter. The Commodores took quick advantage of the turnover, scoring the game-clinching touchdown six plays later on Darrius Sims’ 3-yard end sweep.
Cunningham’s fumble recovery in the first half was his fourth of the year. The total also tops the SEC and ranks second nationally.
Cunningham is one of the three Commodores to garner SEC player of the week honors this year. Sims was recognized after a superb return performance at Georgia Oct. 15 and offensive tackle Will Holden won weekly offensive line honors after a stellar blocking effort against Ole Miss Nov. 19.