With a Drive to Provide for His Mother, A Heart of Character & God Given Talent, B.J. Cunningham is Ready For the NFL!

Nearly all incoming freshmen football players enter training hoping to make an immediate impact by taking the field as true freshmen. Most, though, end up

Nearly all incoming freshmen football players enter training hoping to make an immediate impact by taking the field as true freshmen. Most, though, end up being redshirted and given time to get bigger and stronger before playing in games. Spartan Nation caught up with one Spartan who could not be happier about his coaches’ decision to have redshirted him when he arrived at Michigan State more than four years ago.

           “I feel like it’s one of the best things that ever happened to me in my life,” admits B.J. Cunningham, the record-breaking wide receiver now busy training in preparation for April’s NFL draft. “It gives you an extra year to just learn the game. The speed of the game really changes between high school and college, and the scout team really helped me a lot. I got to play a lot of pitch and catch with Kirk (Cousins), who was my scout team quarterback. It really helped with our confidence with the speed of the game and getting used to it by going against our first team guys. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t been redshirted.”

           Today, Cunningham is facing the chance of “in a few years making sure my mom never has to work again,” and all this is happening after playing just seven full seasons of football, as he did not start playing the sport until his junior year of high school.

“I’ve stepped back and really thought about where the game has taken me,” he says. “I’m telling everyone out there, man, if you throw your heart and passion into something, it’s gonna happen. I did it with football, and I just feel like that in itself is a great feeling to even have, to have a huge goal that’s close to being accomplished.”  

The path was not an easy one, but Cunningham feels like it has prepared him for whatever lies ahead.

“I came in here 18 years old, and I feel like throughout my college career I’ve been through a lot.  I’ve seen a lot and experienced a lot. I just feel like Coach D’s lessons and what he puts us through football-wise, in school, and in life in general, he grasps our attention, and by the time we leave here we’re going to be men. I’ve come out of this five-year career a man, with a lot of notches on my belt, but I’m still standing strong and it’s great.

After a great combine, Cunningham’s hopes are high, but he knows he must become more of a leader.

“I just feel like becoming a leader is what impacts a lot of players after you leave, and what I need to do is do my part on the field and be more vocal, help and lead the group more, and off the field same thing, be a voice in the community. I feel like I’m going to try to use the leadership God blessed me with. I know it’s in me; I just need to get it out.”

He assures any NFL scouts that he is a good draft choice though, citing his hard work ethic, mental toughness, body control, and ability to get along with anybody as a few reasons why.

He says the NFL experience is a crazy thing but that he is enjoying the ride. He looks forward to the day when he achieves his goal of becoming part of professional football’s elite group as well as being able to take complete care of his mother, Kimberly. While he admits she will not be very willing to take the money he will be able to provide, he assures that she will not have a choice in the matter.

“I’ll get it to her some way.”