Linebacker Jonathan Cunningham of Fort Worth North Crowley said on Friday that he would rather play for the Texas Longhorns over the Utah Utes or TCU Horned Frogs.
The 6’2, 195-pound player paid visits to the Horned Frogs, Utes, and Jayhawks—who did not make his final three—and made an official visit to the Forty Acres on June 14. Texas was one of the 19 schools that made offers to Cunningham; it was the last to join the ranks of Arizona State, Arkansas, Baylor, Miami, Missouri, Oklahoma State, and Oregon State. Texas made their offer on February 1.
Although coordinator Andy Avalos’ defensive evaluations of Fort Worth are less significant now that Gary Patterson is no longer the head coach, Cunningham’s offer and pursuit of Kyle Whittington and the Utes speaks highly of him as a prospect.
Undoubtedly, Cunningham’s capacity to play in space gives him an intriguing degree of positional versatility. He can function in a box safety capacity as well as as something akin to a big nickel on the strong side at linebacker, as evidenced by his ability to operate in space after taking coverage drops.
Cunningham has to focus on gaining strength and muscular bulk to complement his slim, rangy physique. Cunningham’s ability to put on 25–30 pounds with ease or reach a weight of 210–215 pounds may decide whether or not he can project as an SEC inside linebacker. Given his frame, the second option obviously seems more feasible. Cunningham’s weakness in high school is most noticeable when he plays tackle as he lacks the perfect thud and frequently drags opponents down.
The floor for the North Crowley prospect appears to be a special teams contributor, maybe even early in his collegiate career, given the quantity of noteworthy special teams plays that Cunningham produced in his junior highlight tape. Given a longer-term growth schedule indicated by the recruiting rankings, Cunningham’s potential and likelihood of becoming a defensive player might ultimately depend on how many years he is prepared to commit to his physical maturity on the Forty Acres.
