Dec. 14, 2016
Vanderbilt linebacker Zach Cunningham has become arguably the most decorated player in Commodore gridiron history after his spectacular defensive performance this year.
Cunningham, a redshirt junior from Pinson, Ala., also became Vanderbilt’s first consensus All-America in more than three decades by sweeping first-team honors from every prominent outlet in the nation. Cunningham’s final accolade came Wednesday when the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) selected him to its First Team All-America Defense.
Since Vanderbilt’s victory over Tennessee in the regular season finale, Cunningham has captured First Team All-America honors from the following national outlets:
• American Football Coaches Association (AFCA)
• Associated Press (AP)
• Football Writers Association of America (FWAA)
• Walter Camp Foundation
• ESPN
• Sports Illustrated
• CBS Sports
• Phil Steele
• The Sporting News
• SB Nation
Cunningham becomes just the seventh player in the 127-year history of Vanderbilt football to capture consensus All-America honors – and the first since punter Ricky Anderson was selected in 1984. He is also the first Commodore position player to earn consensus honors since George Deiderich, a two-way lineman recognized in 1958.
Besides Cunningham, Anderson and Deiderich, the only Commodore consensus All-Americans are punter Jim Arnold in 1982, center Peter Gracey in 1932, end Henry Wakefield in 1924 and end Lynn Bomar in 1923.
Of Vanderbilt’s seven consensus All-Americans, only Cunningham and Anderson were AFCA, AP, FWAA and Walter Camp first-team recipients.
Cunningham leads the SEC with 119 total tackles and four fumble recoveries. He ranks second in the league with 68 solo stops and third with 16.5 tackles for loss. Cunningham is far ahead of any other SEC players in conference play – averaging 11.1 tackles per league game.
Beyond the statistics, Cunningham enjoyed several remarkable individual performances and stunning individual plays. Cunningham was an unanimous National Defensive Player of the Week after a 19-tackle effort in Vanderbilt’s 17-16 upset win at Georgia that he capped with a game-clinching 4th-and-1 tackle late in the contest. Against Auburn, he produced one of the most stunning plays of the college football season, leaping over the Tiger offensive line to block a short field goal. In the regular season finale, Cunningham had 10 tackles and forced a fumble that resulted in Vanderbilt’s game-winning touchdown against Tennessee, earning a second SEC Defensive Player of the Week recognition.
Cunningham’s tackle total is the most by a Commodore player since current Vanderbilt linebacker coach Chris Marve posted 121 tackles in 2009. Cunningham’s 68 unassisted tackles are the most by a Commodore since linebacker Moses Osemwegie registered 83 solo stops in 2005.
Cunningham’s tackles for loss total matches the third highest in team history and his fumble recovery total is just one shy of the school record.Besides the All-America recognitions, Cunningham has been named as a unanimous First Team All-SEC recipient by head coaches and AP sportswriters for the second consecutive year.
Cunningham and the 6-6 Commodores continue their season on Monday, Dec. 26 when they face 6-6 N.C. State from the Atlantic Coast Conference at the Camping World Independence Bowl in Shreveport. Tickets are available here.
The full AFCA All-America squad is here.