Four-Star DL T.A. Cunningham commits to Penn State

Four-star defensive lineman T.A. Cunningham of Miami (FL) Central High announced his commitment to Penn State Saturday afternoon.

The 6-foot-6, 265 pounder chose the Nittany Lions over Miami and Texas A&M.

Cunningham on why he chose Penn State 

“When I took my OV it felt like home. Coach Franklin and coach Barnes made sure I knew how much of a priority I was to them and how much they believed in me. Although they’re genuinely nice guys, they’re real coaches and I know going there I’ll be coached hard but loved even harder. It also helps knowing coach Franklin isn’t going anywhere any time soon.”

Relationship with coaching staff + their plan for him

“I’ve been in conversation with coach Franklin and coach Kenny Sanders since very early on in my high school career. Their consistency through the ups and downs definitely played a role. Another big thing was the way they envisioned me as a player. Whenever speaking to the coaches I’ve never been given a definitive position because they see the value in my versatility. Penn State sees me as a player who’s physical enough to play in the trenches while also being athletic enough to stunt out or inside!”

Cunningham ranks as the No. 257 player in the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also tabs in as the No. 28 defensive lineman and the No. 36 player in the state of Florida.

The Sunshine State defensive lineman joins coach James Franklin and the Nittany Lions’ top 10 class in the 2024 team rankings. He is accompanied by four-star athlete Quinton Martin, four-star tight end Luke Reynolds, and others.

He currently has an On3 NIL Valuation of $65K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

Personal Life (via On3)

“T.A. Cunningham generated national headlines in September 2022 when he was the focus of an NIL-coated controversial transfer from Roswell (Georgia) John’s Creek to Los Alamitos (California) High School. After initially having his high school eligibility denied by the California Interscholastic Federation, he was allowed to play in 2022 by the CIF. But that didn’t happen until Oct. 1, 2022. “He’s a victim of circumstances,” Los Al coach Ray Fenton told the Orange County Register.”

“He’s such a great kid, and he’s an outstanding leader.” Opposing coaches in California call him a game-changer. “He’s just too good,” Newport Harbor coach Peter Lofthouse told the OC Register. “There’s a reason he is a five-star D-line guy. His size, his speed, he’s definitely very gifted.” Previously, Cunningham spent his 2020 season at Providence Christian Academy in Georgia.