Patience is a virtue that has become increasingly rare in today’s society. Everyone wants everything immediately, and they don’t appreciate things that they have to wait for. This extends into football. There are a lot of players who are supremely talented who just need a little bit of patience to put everything together. Michael Cunningham does not have that problem. He is one of the most patient players with the ball in his hands out there, and that patience takes him far.
Michael Cunningham is a running back with a lot of different tools in his toolbox, but easily the most valuable of these tools is his vision as a ball carrier, which is largely due to his patience in the backfield. His vision is truly elite, a plus-plus tool for him. His instinct with the ball in his hands is preternatural. There’s really no other way to put it. He knows where the hole is going to be before it is even there. He mentioned Le’Veon Bell as part of his inspiration for his patience in the back field, and that inspiration is well placed. That’s the kind of runner Cunningham is. He knows when he needs to shoot a gap, but he also knows when he needs to wait for the hole to open up. He’s a very smart runner, and those don’t grow on trees.
None of this vision would be helpful if Michael didn’t have the athleticism to use it. Luckily, he brings the right combination of quickness and physicality to go along with his elite vision to make him an extremely effective runner.
Cunningham doesn’t have elite speed, but the gaps he generates between himself and the defenders are so wide that it doesn’t matter. He makes those gaps because he is extremely quick. He has fast feet and possesses the ability to change his direction in a very short amount of time, which is what fuels his elite vision. He doesn’t just see the hole he needs to get to, he’s also able to actually make the jump cut needed to get to that hole super quickly. He has great acceleration – even if the top speed he reaches isn’t top of the line right now, he reaches that top speed really quickly, which can be just as valuable.
And besides, even if someone does get to him, that doesn’t guarantee anything. Cunningham is not small for a running back (6’0 200 pounds), and he is a pretty physical runner. He has a really solid base that allows him to bounce off of weak contact and fight through arm tackles. You don’t see him trucking anyone, but you have to bring a certain level of violence if you want to actually get him on the ground, or else he’ll just shake you off and keep going.
Those are the big selling points of Cunningham’s game, but there are a few other facets of his game that are really good too, even if there isn’t as much to talk about with them. He’s not just a hand-off running back. It’s not his main game, but he can give you something in the passing game too. He doesn’t have any propensity for drops, he runs decent routes out of the backfield, and once that ball is in his hands in the flats, you already know the kind of threat he poses. He also has some potential in returns, having shown flashes on the kickoff return team. Finally, he has a 3.5 GPA, so you know he is a strong student with a good work ethic who will put in the work off the field needed to improve on any of the aspects of his game that are needed. All in all, this is a running back with some elite tools, a solid base in most other areas that can mask the few deficiencies he does have, and a propensity for hard work that any college coach can work with.
You can check out Michael Cunningham’s Hudl Highlights here!
What got you into football in the first place? What makes you love it?
I started playing football in the 5th grade because I saw all my friends play and wanted to play too. I fell in love with the process of getting better. Everyday I want to get at least 1% better at what I do. I was taught that through hard work and dedication, good things will follow.
What’s your favorite football memory?
When I was in middle school playing in 8th grade. We were playing St. Leo, one of the surrounding schools, and I got handed the ball off. I bounce it outside the left tackle. It was just me and the linebacker and I ran through him and outran the safety for a 40 yard touchdown. I physically remember it after every game I play.
What is your biggest strength on the field?
I’m best at vision and following my blockers. I know where the hole is going to be as I have studied the plays. Even if I don’t see it, I know I’m going to make something happen.
What contributes to that – what do you put in to make yourself have such strong ball carrier vision?
As a running back, it’s all footwork and hip movement. If you can turn your hips and turn directions quickly, that’s what’s going to be very helpful. I do a lot of footwork drills so that when I see the hole, I can turn my hips and plant my feet.
Which NFL player do you try to emulate the most with your own game?
I mean, Christian McCaffrey is the best running back in the league right now. Anything he does is something you want to learn from. I watch a lot of Saquan Barkely highlights, and Le’Veon Bell was a running back who had a lot of patience in the backfield. That’s how I started working in practice – calming myself and waiting patiently for the hole to open up.
What has been your biggest improvement to your game over the last few years?
I’ve done a lot of footwork drills, a lot of bag work. I’ve worked a lot on going step for step drills to learn exactly what I should do.
What has the recruiting process been like for you?
No offers yet, but I’ve gone to plenty of camps – Northwestern, Florida St., Central Arkansas. I’ve tried to talk to coaches and be personal, have one on one conversations with them.
What do you do outside of practice to improve?
I run a lot of sprints. That’s another thing I’m trying to get better at – breakaway speed. We have a gauntlet that helps with ball carrying. I hate to admit it, but I did fumble a lot last year.
What are some goals for yourself this year?
Trying to break 1000 yards and stay injury free. That’s the big thing, I want to stay injury free.
Is there anything else I haven’t asked about that you would like to mention?
I just know that I couldn’t do all that I’ve done with God. Without Jesus Christ. That’s all I have to say.
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