2017 NFL Draft: 5 Fastest Rising 2017 NFL Prospects
By Jon Dove
Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt
The struggles of his team, Vanderbilt, haven’t kept Zach Cunningham from creating a buzz in NFL draft circles. He is quickly becoming one of the more exciting defensive prospect eligible for the 2017 NFL Draft.
Cunningham is an explosive athlete capable of covering a ton of ground. He routinely makes plays from sideline to sideline. However, it’s his knack for wreaking havoc behind the line of scrimmage that separates him from the pack.
He has that quick-twitch ability that allows him to quickly get to full speed and close on the football. Cunningham also shows the ability to quickly decipher post-snap information and doesn’t hesitate to react.
Despite his quickness, he doesn’t rely on running around blockers to get to the ball carrier. Cunningham does a great job using his hand to take on blockers and quickly disengage. He flashes his upper-body strength by delivering a jolt to the blocker.
His athleticism also makes him a strong coverage linebacker. He does a good job keeping his pads down and his head on a swivel to stick with his target.
The lack of talent surrounding Cunningham works in his favor as NFL teams are able to his ability to make plays on his own. This is a top-15 prospect that could continue to rise.