Randall Cunningham II explained

Randall Cunningham
College:USC Trojans
Sport:Track and field
Position:High jump
Height Ft:6
Height In:6
Weight Lb:180
Nationality:American
Birth Date:4 January 1996
Birth Place:Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Highschool:Bishop Gorman High School
Career Highlights:y
Awards:
  • 2013 Gatorade Nevada Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year
Championships:y
Championship List:
  • NIAA Division I state high jump champion (2011, 2013, 2014)
  • 2× NIAA Division I football champion (2012, 2013)
  • NCAA Outdoor Track Champion (2016)
  • NCAA Indoor Track Champion (2018)
  • NCAA Outdoor Track All-American (2015, 2016)
  • NCAA Indoor Track All-American (2017, 2018)
  • U.S. Junior National Champion

Randall Wade Cunningham II (born January 4, 1996) is a former American high jumper. He competed collegiately for the USC Trojans Men's track & field team. A dual-sport athlete, he also played quarterback at Bishop Gorman High School. He is a five-time Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) state champion (three times in track and twice in football). He is a 2-time NCAA Track Champion, and 4-time NCAA All-American, U.S. Junior National Champion, and Pan American Junior Athletics Championships Champion.

In track, he set USA Track & Field (USATF) and Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) national 15 - 16-year-old boys high jump records with a heights of 2.16m (07.09feet) and 7feet, respectively, as a sophomore. As a junior, he posted the highest jump of the year by an American high school student in Spring 2013 with a height of 7feet. He was the 2013 Nevada Track & Field Gatorade Athlete of the Year. He won the NIAA state high jump championship as a freshman, as a junior and as a senior.

In football, he led Gorman to its fifth consecutive Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) state championship in 2013 and declined numerous Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) scholarship offers as well as an offer to play football at Yale University. He is the son of retired National Football League quarterback Randall Cunningham, nephew of retired NFL fullback Sam Cunningham and older brother of World Champion Vashti Cunningham.

During his freshman year at USC, he became an All-American by placing 8th in the year-end National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) outdoor championships. During the subsequent summer he became the U.S. Junior National high jump Champion and won a gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships. He won the 2016 NCAA outdoor championships as a sophomore and was an All-American as a junior. He won the NCAA indoor championship as a senior.

Career

Football

Cunningham attended nearby Silverado High School in Las Vegas for his freshman season. His father, who had previously coached his youth teams, was hired as the football team's offensive coordinator and for the track team's staff in December 2009.[1] In August 2011, his father resigned his positions and transferred his son to Bishop Gorman just prior to his sophomore year.[2]

Due to NIAA rules which require a transfer student to wait a year before participating in athletic activities, Randall II was required to sit out his sophomore year in both football and track and field at Bishop Gorman. Then, he backed up four-time state champion starting quarterback Anu Solomon as a junior. That season, he compiled 298 yards and two touchdowns on 21 - 32 passing with four interceptions and added 42 rushes for 483 yards and seven touchdowns.[3] By his junior year, his 40-yard dash speed was laser-timed at 4.6 seconds.[3] As a senior, he inherited a team that Solomon had led to four consecutive state championships.[3] Despite not starting until his senior season, he entered the year with football scholarship offers from Mississippi State, LSU, Baylor, Syracuse, Arizona State, Utah and UNLV.[4] USA Today predicted that Baylor and LSU may be favorites because of their strong track programs.

During his senior season, the team played a schedule of out-of-state schools for its first 6 games before beginning league competition. Bishop Gorman won 4 of those games. Its October 4 contest with Miami's Booker T. Washington High School was broadcast on ESPNU at a time when Washington was the number one ranked high school in the country.[5] [6] By that time, he had added offers from Kansas State and Yale.[7] In the five previous seasons under head coach Tony Sanchez, Bishop Gorman had gone 60 - 5 and not lost by more than 14 points.[6] Bishop Gorman entered the game with national rankings of 18 by Rivals.com,[6] 32 by Student Sports.[8] Gorman trailed 14 - 12 with 8:35 remaining when Cunningham fumbled. Washington scored a touchdown and then another following Cunningham's third interception, resulting in a 28 - 12 defeat.[9] [10] Subsequently, Cunningham led Gorman through an undefeated Southwest League regular season, marking the seventh consecutive such occurrence for the school.[11] By mid-November, Cunningham stated "I like USC, UCLA, Kansas State, Texas, ASU, and Indiana - and Oregon as well".[12] On December 7, he led Gorman to a 48 - 14 victory over Edward C. Reed High School in the state championship, rushing for 4 touchdowns and 213 yards on 22 carries and throwing for a touchdown and 111 yards on 9-of-11 passing.[13] [14] Cunningham was briefly recruited by Clay Helton, USC quarterback coach under Steve Sarkisian, but USC did not make him a football scholarship offer. After accepting a track scholarship to USC, Cunningham announced he would attempt to walk-on to the football team.

Track

On August 1, 2010, Cunningham placed second in the 13 - 14 age group at the USATF National Junior Olympics with a high jump of 5feet.[15] As a freshman, he won the May 20, 2011 NIAA AAAA high jump championship with a jump of 6feet.[16] As a sophomore, he sat out of NIAA competition after transferring. His father's best high jump in high school was 6feet.[17] On June 24, 2012, Cunningham established the USATF 15 - 16 age group Outdoor Track & Field record with a jump of 2.16m (07.09feet).[18] [19] Cunningham won the August 2012 National AAU Junior Olympic Games high jump with a jump of 7feet.[20] He actually won the 15 - 16 age group with a height of 6feet.[21] The Junior Olympic age group record of 7feet by Johnnie Bartley had stood since 1986,[21] but Cunningham continued to jump past his winning height to establish a new Junior Olympic record.[22] By April 11 of his 2013 junior season, he had already cleared 7feet, which was the NIAA state championship record, four times that season. In the May 18, 2013 NIAA state championships, he achieved a high jump of 7feet, which was the best height by a high school high jumper in the nation that year.[23] [24] He earned the 2013 Nevada Track & Field Gatorade Player of the Year award.[25] In the August 2013 AAU Junior Olympics, he was second or third in the 17 - 18 age group with a height of 6feet or 7feet, depending on the source.[22] [26] On January 3, 2014, he made a verbal commitment to the USC Trojans track team, shunning over 30 football scholarship offers.[27] In 2014 at the annual Mt. SAC (Mt. San Antonio College) Relays, he set the American high school season best for boys of 7feet on the same April 12 day his sister Vashti did so for girls with 6feet.[28] He was surpassed by Bryant O'Georgia of Arizona by one quarter inch in May.[29] Cunningham placed first in the May 24, 2014 NIAA state championship with a high jump of 6feet and second with a long jump of 22feet.[30]

As a freshman at the University of Southern California, Cunningham finished second at the Pac-12 Outdoor Championships with a height of 2.16m (07.09feet)[31] and tied for 8th at the 2015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships (2.16m (07.09feet)).[32] Two weeks later, he won the U.S. Junior National Championship with a .[33] His top 8 finish in the NCAAs earned him All-American recognition.[34] In his freshman year, Randall was coached by 2-time Olympian Jamie Nieto who took over as the USC assistant coach in charge of jumps and multi-events on August 20, 2014.[35] Later that summer he earned a gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships with a jump of . His sister Vashti also won gold at that same competition.[36]

As a sophomore, he was second again at the Pac-12 Outdoor Championship with a height of 2.18m (07.15feet) and won the 2016 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a height of 2.25m (07.38feet), which is an outdoor personal best.[37] [38] Cunningham no-heighted at the July 8, 2016 Olympic Trials qualifying round after three unsuccessful attempts at 2.14m (07.02feet). The trials were held during a torrential downpour that was deemed severe enough to suspend the women's pole vault event and that seemed to impair the men's discus event.[39]

As a junior, Cunningham was recognized on March 6 as the west region Men's Field Athlete of the Year for the indoor season by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.[40] He placed fourth at the March 11, 2017 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships with a height of 2.23m (07.32feet), earning him another All-American recognition.[41] As a senior, Cunningham won the 2018 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships with a USC record height of 2.29m (07.51feet).[42] [43]

Personal life

In a highly anticipated birth,[44] Cunningham II was born to Randall Cunningham and Felicity (née De Jager) in Las Vegas on January 4, 1996.[45] [46] He is well known as the son of 2-time All-American punter and 4-time Pro Bowl quarterback Cunningham.[3] He is also the nephew of College Football Hall of Fame running back Sam Cunningham.[47] In addition, he has two other Cunningham uncles (A.C. and Bruce) who played Division I football.[47] His mother, Felicity, is a native South African who was formerly a professional ballerina with the Dance Theatre of Harlem.[3] [48] His younger sister, Vashti Cunningham, is a World Indoor Champion[49] and subsequently signed a professional contract with Nike while still in high school.[50] His brother, Christian, died at age 2.[3] Cunningham also competed in the long jump in high school.[47]

As of his junior year in high school, Cunningham intended to compete in both football and track in college,[3] [47] although his father's alma mater, UNLV, did not have a men's track program.[3] Baylor, who made him his first offer, had coined the nickname RC2, a reference to RG3, for him.[3] He aspired to break the national high school record of 7feet,[3] and he also aspired to be an Olympic high jumper, but the automatic qualifying jump for the 2012 team was .[51] The qualifying standard for the 2016 Olympics was .

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Keefer . Case . Silverado hires Randall Cunningham as offensive coordinator . . December 14, 2009 . September 6, 2013.
  2. News: Cunningham resigns as Silverado aide . Nevada Preps. . August 17, 2011. Aird, Tristan.
  3. Web site: My time to shine: Randall Cunningham II relishes the chance to live up to his famous last name. September 6, 2013. March 8, 2013. ESPN. Sherman, Mitch.
  4. Web site: Mississippi State, LSU offers Randall Cunningham Jr.. September 6, 2013. August 3, 2013. Sun Herald. Jones, James.
  5. Web site: Booker T. Washington heads to Las Vegas to square off against Bishop Gorman. October 6, 2013. October 1, 2013. Miami Herald. Fernandez, Andre C..
  6. Web site: Gorman football ready for showdown against nation's No. 1-ranked team. October 6, 2013. October 3, 2013. Las Vegas Sun. Brewer, Ray.
  7. Web site: Big 12 recruiting mailbag. November 2, 2013. October 4, 2013. ESPN. Wilkerson, William.
  8. Web site: Sanchez sets bar at Bishop Gorman. October 6, 2013. October 4, 2013. ESPN. Sherman, Mitch.
  9. Web site: Late touchdowns lead Booker T. Washington past Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas. October 6, 2013. October 5, 2013. Miami Herald. Fernandez, Andre C..
  10. Web site: Gorman not satisfied with moral victory of respectable performance against nation's top team. October 6, 2013. October 5, 2013. Las Vegas Sun. Brewer, Ray.
  11. Web site: Gorman completes 7th straight undefeated Southwest League season. November 16, 2013. November 8, 2013. Las Vegas Sun. Brewer, Ray.
  12. Web site: New Randall on the rise. November 23, 2013. November 18, 2013. Philly.com. Jensen, Mike.
  13. Web site: Live blog: Gorman downs Reed 48-14 for fifth straight state championship: Randall Cunningham II has more than 200 rushing yards, five total touchdowns in victory. December 8, 2013. December 7, 2013. Las Vegas Sun. Brewer, Ray.
  14. Web site: One for the thumb: Gorman rides QB Cunningham to fifth straight state championship. December 8, 2013. December 7, 2013. Las Vegas Sun. Brewer, Ray.
  15. Web site: USATF Junior Olympics National T&F Championships - Day 6. October 11, 2013. August 1, 2010. Athletic.net, LLC..
  16. Web site: Nevada State Championships-Unofficial Results. September 6, 2013. Athletic.net.
  17. Web site: Reebok Top 25 Most Dynamic Athletes: Randall Cunningham Jr. . September 7, 2013. July 19, 2013. MaxPreps. Stephens, Mitch.
  18. Web site: 2013 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships. September 6, 2013. USA Track & Field.
  19. Web site: 2012 Region 15 Meet. October 11, 2013. July 10, 2012. ESPN.
  20. Web site: Randall Cunningham Jr. high jumps 7-2 . September 6, 2013. August 4, 2012. MaxPreps. Krider, Dave.
  21. Web site: 2012 AAU JO Games - 7/28/2012 to 8/4/2012. September 6, 2013. August 4, 2012. Amateur Athletic Union.
  22. Web site: 2013 AAU JO Games - 7/27/2013 to 8/3/2013. September 6, 2013. August 3, 2013. Amateur Athletic Union.
  23. Web site: Syracuse football team in pursuit of dual-threat quarterback Randall Cunningham II. September 6, 2013. May 28, 2013. Syracuse Post-Standard. Cohen, Michael.
  24. Web site: Season: 2013 Outdoor: Men's High School High Jump. September 6, 2013. Athletic.net.
  25. Web site: Nevada Boys Track & Field AOY: Randall Cunningham. September 6, 2013. USA Today. June 20, 2013.
  26. Web site: AAU Junior Olympic Championships - (Dyestat Meet Page). September 6, 2013. Dyestat.com.
  27. Web site: Randall Cunningham II to focus on track in college, commits to USC: The dual-sport athlete will also try to earn a spot in USC's football program, but nothing is guaranteed. March 30, 2014. January 3, 2014. Las Vegas Sun. Brewer, Ray.
  28. Web site: Local track and field stars set high standards at Mt. SAC Relays. May 2, 2014. April 22, 2014. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Schoen, David.
  29. Web site: Bryant O' Georgia sets high jump state record, captures title. May 29, 2014. May 11, 2014. AZCentral.com. Obert, Richard.
  30. Web site: Nevada State Championships Day 2. May 29, 2014. May 24, 2014. Athletic.net.
  31. Web site: Pac-12 Track and Field Championships - 5/9/2015 to 5/17/2015. June 28, 2015. May 17, 2015. Pac-12 Conference.
  32. Web site: NCAA Division I 2015 Outdoor Track & Field Championships. June 28, 2015. June 13, 2015.
  33. Web site: USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships. June 28, 2015. June 26, 2015.
  34. Web site: 2015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field All-Americans Announced. June 28, 2015. June 15, 2015. U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Young, Donald.
  35. Web site: Jamie Nieto. July 17, 2015. CBS Interactive. USCTrojans.com.
  36. Web site: Aguilar breaks world junior javelin record at Pan American Junior Championships. August 10, 2015. August 3, 2015. Robinson, Javier Clavelo. International Association of Athletics Federations.
  37. Web site: Oregon sweeps Pac-12 Track and Field Championships for the eighth time. https://web.archive.org/web/20160517103549/https://pac-12.com/article/2016/05/15/oregon-sweeps-pac-12-track-and-field-championships-eighth-time. dead. May 17, 2016. Pac-12. June 12, 2016. May 15, 2016.
  38. Web site: Cunningham Wins NCAA High Jump Title. USC Trojans. June 12, 2016. June 10, 2016.
  39. Web site: Randall Cunningham fails to advance in Olympic trials high jump. July 8, 2016. July 8, 2016. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Ziegler, Mark.
  40. Web site: Cunningham and Blockburger Earn USTFCCCA Regional Awards: Cunningham named Men's Field Athlete of the Year & Blockberger Men's Assistant Coach of the Year. March 23, 2017. March 6, 2017. USCTrojans.com.
  41. Web site: NCAA Division I Indoor Championships. March 23, 2017. March 11, 2017. NCAA.com.
  42. Web site: USC Sets 2 World & 3 USA Records At NCAA Indoor Championships. April 5, 2018. March 10, 2018. USCTrojans.com. University of Southern California.
  43. Web site: NCAA Division 1 2018 Indoor Championship . April 5, 2018. March 10, 2018. rtspt.com.
  44. Web site: When Push Comes To Shove Randall: If My Wife Is In Labor, I May Miss The Game Oh, Baby! Cunningham Would Miss Game, Go To Vegas If Wife Goes Into Labor Playoff Berth For Randall?. January 3, 2014. December 28, 1995. Philly.com. Mulligan, Kevin.
  45. News: Cunningham Saga Finally Over: It's a Boy . . January 5, 1996 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140610205703/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4323965.html . dead . June 10, 2014 . January 3, 2014 . "Cunningham's wife gave birth to the couple's first baby Wednesday night in Las Vegas.". HighBeam.
  46. News: Knee Surgery to Keep Faulk Out on Sundayel 637 . . January 6, 1996 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924200329/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-769754.html . dead . September 24, 2015 . January 4, 2014. HighBeam.
  47. Web site: Gorman siblings not burdened by celebrated name. September 6, 2013. April 11, 2013. Schoen, David. Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  48. Web site: Weddings of the Year. January 3, 2013. July 26, 1993. People.
  49. Web site: Results. High Jump Women - Final. 16 April 2023. iaaf.org.
  50. Web site: Bishop Gorman's Vashti Cunningham turns pro, signs with Nike. March 21, 2016.
  51. Web site: Randall Cunningham's Son Will Be an NFL Quarterback or an Olympian High Jumper. Maybe Both. September 6, 2013. June 1, 2013. USA Today. McIntyre, Jason.