By: Fred Minco
BJ Cunningham was a fun one. A 3-year started in Basketball and 2006 Ohio Conference Player of the Year. My guy could hoop. He also played some soccer and ran track before discovering the gridiron as his true love. After playing some DB he broke onto the Scene as an All State WR and didn’t look back. After back-to-back stellar years he started receiving some D1 attention and that’s when he chose Michigan State. Not knowing at the time he’d be engraved into history there forever.
As a freshman he seen playing time hauling in 41 passes for the second most on the team and had 528 receiving yards which ranked 3rd on a Michigan State team led by Brian Hoyer. Setting the tone for a career to come.
2009, his sophomore season he seen some increase in production with 48 receptions for 461 yards and 4 TDs. He caught his first touchdown against Montana State and would go on to grab 24 more in his career to finish 2nd all time for the Michigan State Spartans. He done his part with 1st year Starter Kirk Cousins to get the Spartans to the Alamo Bowl where they Fell to the Texas Tech Red Raiders
His junior year is when he really came onto the Scene. Notching 50 catches for 611 yards and 9 TDs to land him on the Honorable Mention All-Big 10 list. Michigan State was gathering some steam as they finished 11-2, ranked number 14 in the nation and landed in the Captain One Bowl against Alabama. Bowl Week practice comes along, and he ends up breaking his left foot, forcing him to miss out on the game.
Senior year came and so did the accolades. Giving credit to his new WR Coach who focused on getting separation, he exploded. Hauling 79 catches for 1,306 yards and 12 touchdowns. This landed him in the books for the Spartans. Finishing 1st all time in career receiving yards with 3,086 to pass all-time great Andre Rison. He finished 2nd all time with 25 TDs behind the late great Charles Rogers who had 27. He finished his career top 10 in BIG 10 history with receptions and yards and countless awards such as landing in lists like All Big 10, All American and a slew of national media awards.
BJ would go on to the selected 183rd overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 6th round of the 2012 NFL Draft. It wasn’t the most ideal situation for a rookie having HBOs Hard Knocks there along with names like Reggie Bush and Chad Ochocinco. After being released by the Dolphins, he found his way to Philadelphia where he spent his longest tenure with an NFL team for 3 years seeing time on the field as a special teamer.
After a short stint in Chicago, he would take his talents to the CFL! Finding a home with the Montreal Alouettes for 7 years. Putting up 1,200 yards and 4 TDs in 2017 for his best season as a Pro. Tune in this Tuesday to fill in the details between as BJ joins FRESH OFF THE CLOCK!
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