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Zach Cunningham transformed from overlooked Commodore to breakout star after making a game-saving tackle out of nowhere in Vanderbilt’s 17-16 win at Georgia Saturday.
Zach Cunningham came to play. #Vandy beats #Georgia on 4th & 1 https://t.co/5d7b5H8KDm
— A to Z Sports (@AtoZSports) October 15, 2016
His superhuman, 19-tackle performance didn’t go unnoticed. The junior linebacker was named the Walter Camp Player of the Week on Sunday.
#LaTech WR Carlos Henderson (5 TDs) & #Vandy LB Zach Cunningham (19 tackles) have been named the Walter Camp National FBS Players of the Wk
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) October 16, 2016
Cunningham is the third Vanderbilt player to win national player of the week honors and first since 2008. That season, defensive backs Ryan Hamilton and D.J. Moore each earned the award while carrying the Commodores to their first bowl game since 1982.
Cunningham ranks fourth in the nation and first in the SEC with 81 tackles through just seven games in 2016.