Jermaine Cunningham

Last updated

Jermaine Cunningham
Jermaine Cunningham (November 28, 2009).jpg
Cunningham with the Florida Gators in 2009
No. 55, 96
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1988-08-24) August 24, 1988 (age 36)
Bronx, New York, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:248 lb (112 kg)
Career information
High school: Stephenson (Stone Mountain, Georgia)
College: Florida
NFL draft: 2010  / round: 2 / pick: 53
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:60
Sacks:3.5
Forced fumbles:2
Fumble recoveries:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Jermaine Alexander Alfred Cunningham (born April 24, 1988) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators, and played for two BCS National Championship teams. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft.

Contents

Early life

Cunningham was born in the Bronx, New York. [1] He attended Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where he played high school football as a linebacker for the Stephenson Jaguars. [2] He made twenty quarterback sacks as a junior. [2] As a senior team captain in 2005, Cunningham averaged 15 tackles per game and recorded 25 sacks, while helping lead his team to the state semifinal game. [2]

College career

Cunningham accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, [2] where he played for coach Urban Meyer's Florida Gators football team from 2006 to 2009. [3] As a freshman in 2006, he played in seven games as a defensive end. He went on to start 13 games at defensive end as a sophomore in 2007, recording 64 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 12 tackles for a loss. During his 2008 junior season, Cunningham started 13 of 14 games and finished second on the team with six sacks, while also picking up ten tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles. As a senior in 2009, Cunningham started 12 games, and missed two with injuries. He finished with 34 tackles and ranked second on the team with seven sacks, while also finishing fifth in the conference with 12 tackles for a loss. Following his junior and senior seasons in 2008 and 2009, he was a second-team All-Southeastern Conference selection, and he completed his college career with five forced fumbles and 19.5 quarterback sacks—tied for tenth on the Gators' career sacks record list with teammate Carlos Dunlap. [3] During his time as a Gator, the team won two SEC Championship Games (2006, 2008) and two BCS National Championship Games (2007, 2009). [3]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 3+38 in
(1.91 m)
266 lb
(121 kg)
33+34 in
(0.86 m)
10+38 in
(0.26 m)
4.89 s1.60 s2.77 s35 in
(0.89 m)
9 ft 10 in
(3.00 m)
All values from NFL Scouting Combine. [4]

New England Patriots

Cunningham was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round (53rd overall) of the 2010 NFL draft. [5] He signed a four-year contract on July 24, 2010. [6] Cunningham made his first career start in the third game of his rookie season, surpassing former starter Tully Banta-Cain, and recorded his first career sack in Week 6 against the Baltimore Ravens. Cunningham started 11 of 16 games played as a rookie, finishing with 27 tackles, one sack, and two forced fumbles.

Cunningham struggled through his second season, recording only one tackle on the season. On a defense that was ranked 31st out of 32 teams, Cunningham was a regular healthy scratch. Cunningham played mostly special teams and rarely saw action in the defensive line rotation.

On November 26, 2012 Cunningham was suspended for violating the NFL performance-enhancing substances policy. [7]

After 3.5 sacks in three seasons, the Patriots cut Cunningham on August 31, 2013, not surviving the final cuts.

San Francisco 49ers

Cunningham signed with the San Francisco 49ers on October 1, 2013. Cunningham was released by the 49ers on October 29.

New York Jets

Cunningham signed with the New York Jets on November 20, 2013. [8]

NFL statistics

YearTeamGPCOMBTOTALASTSACKFFFRFR YDSINTIR YDSAVG IRLNGTDPD
2010 NE 15342771.0200000001
2011 NE 91010.0000000000
2012 NE 12241682.5020000000
Career 365943163.5220000001

Personal life

Cunningham, along with U.S. Olympic track hopeful Xavier Carter and former Gator Jonathan Demps, was arrested in 2007 after an altercation with a Jimmy John's employee. The group became "verbally abusive, struck the employee with empty soda cans and a sandwich, and fled the store" after the clerk asked them to pay for a bag of chips. [9] In late December 2014, Cunningham was charged with multiple counts in Union County, New Jersey. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jevon Kearse</span> American football player (born 1976)

Jevon Kearse, nicknamed "the Freak", is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for eleven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) during the late 1990s and 2000s. Kearse played college football for the Florida Gators, earning All-American honors and was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerard Warren</span> American football player (born 1978)

Gerard Thurston Warren is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for eleven seasons. He played college football for the University of Florida. He was selected by the Cleveland Browns third overall in the 2001 NFL draft, and also played professionally for the Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots of the NFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darnell Dockett</span> American football player (born 1981)

Darnell Maurice Dockett is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for 11 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Cardinals in the third round of the 2004 NFL draft. He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Channing Crowder</span> American football player (born 1983)

Randolph Channing Crowder Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for six seasons with the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Florida Gators, earning first-team All-American honors in 2004. Crowder was selected by the Dolphins in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft, and played his entire professional career with Miami.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Brown (defensive end)</span> American football player (born 1979)

Alex James Brown is an American former football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. He played college football for the University of Florida, and was a two-time All-American. The Chicago Bears picked Brown in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL draft, and he also played for the New Orleans Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Carter (American football)</span> American football player (born 1973)

Kevin Louis Carter is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons in the 1990s and 2000s. Carter played college football for the Florida Gators, earning All-American honors. A first-round pick in the 1995 NFL draft, he played in the NFL for the St. Louis Rams, Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Bobby L. McCray Jr. is an American former college and professional football player who was a defensive end for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Florida. He was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL draft, and also played for the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Mincey</span> American football player (born 1983)

Jeremy Lamar Mincey is a former American football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL draft. He played college football at Florida. He was also a member of the San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos, and Dallas Cowboys

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marquand Manuel</span> American football player and coach (born 1979)

Marquand Alexander Manuel is an American football coach and former safety who is the Safeties coach for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons and as an assistant coach for the Seattle Seahawks. After playing college football for the University of Florida, he was selected in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL draft. He played for eight seasons in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, and Detroit Lions. He was the defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons from 2017 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarvis Moss</span> American football player (born 1984)

Jarvis Jaray Moss is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons. He played college football for the University of Florida, received All-American honors, and was a member of a BCS National Championship team in 2006. Moss was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft, and played professionally for the Broncos and Oakland Raiders.

Ellis Bernard Johnson is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Johnson played college football for the University of Florida, and was recognized as the National Defensive Player of the Year. He was selected in the first round of the 1995 NFL draft, and played professionally for the Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos of the NFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Cohen</span> American gridiron football player (born 1984)

Joe Cohen is an American former professional football defensive tackle. Cohen played college football for the University of Florida, and was a member of a BCS National Championship team. He was picked by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL draft. He played professionally for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derrick Harvey</span> American football player (born 1986)

Derrick Harvey is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Florida, and was a member of a BCS National Championship team. He was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft, and also played for the Denver Broncos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Spikes</span> American football player (born 1987)

Brandon Spikes is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators, was recognized as a consensus All-American twice and was a member of two BCS National Championship teams. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. He also played for the Buffalo Bills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carlos Dunlap</span> American football player (born 1989)

Carlos Dunlap is an American professional football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football for the Florida Gators, where he won the 2009 BCS National Championship Game. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahmad Black</span> American football player (born 1988)

Ahmad Black is an American former professional football safety who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Florida, and was a member of a BCS National Championship team. Black was selected by the Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL draft. Black officially retired from the NFL on April 9, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharrif Floyd</span> American football player (born 1991)

Sharrif Kalil Floyd is an American professional football coach and former defensive tackle who is the assistant defensive line coach for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators, earning All-American honors in 2012. Floyd was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft and retired in 2017 following a number of injuries, later becoming a coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Courtney Upshaw</span> American football player (born 1989)

Courtney Tremaine Upshaw is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, earning first-team All-American honors in 2011. He was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft.

Rhondy Weston is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at the University of Florida. The Dallas Cowboys selected him in the third round of the 1989 NFL draft.

Dominique Earl Easley is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft.

References

  1. "Jermaine Cunningham Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 GatorZone.com, Football History, 2009 Roster, Jermaine Cunningham Archived September 3, 2014, at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 2011 Florida Gators Football Media Guide Archived April 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine , University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 81, 97, 98, 153–154, 180 (2011). Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  4. Jermaine Cunningham Combine Profile, NFL.com. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
  5. "2010 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  6. "Cunningham agrees to 4-year pact," ESPNBoston.com (July 24, 2010). Retrieved July 25, 2010.
  7. Patriots' Cunningham suspended four games www.upi.com Nov. 26, 2012
  8. Cimini, Rich (November 20, 2013). "Jets sign LB Jermaine Cunningham". ESPN New York. Archived from the original on November 21, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  9. "Jermaine Cunningham, ex-Gator Demps arrested Archived November 4, 2014, at the Wayback Machine ," tampabay.com (December 5, 2007). Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  10. Porter, David (May 6, 2015). "Judge Denies NFL Lingebacker's Request in Revenge Porn Case". Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015.