Cunningham's happy to be a 'Cane

Brandon Cunningham is a junior offensive tackle out of Ocean Springs (Miss.) St. Martin. He is on track to be one of the best in his state for 2019 and he gave his commitment to the Miami Hurricanes before his junior year started.

Miami offered the 6-foot-5, 297 pounder July 10, then on July 22, while on the UM campus, he made his decision.

He did not go on the visit planning to make a decision.

"I did not go there planning to commit to Miami," said . "It just hit me. After the Paradise Camp, I went up to talk to coach [Mark] Richt and I told him I felt Miami is the school for me.

"I did not think I was going to commit on my first visit, but I had that feeling."

That feeling started when he stepped foot on campus.

"As soon as I got to Miami, I felt the vibe and I felt the energy. I have been on other visits, but this was unlike any other school I had visited before. It just felt different right away.

"It felt like a brotherhood there. All the players were close, everyone had open arms for me and that feeling had me thinking about committing right away."

Cunningham toured the campus, he met with the coaches and he got the full tour along with working with the coaches at camp.

Stacey Searels is the offensive line coach under coach Richt and Cunningham and Searels struck up a good chord working together. They have stayed in touch and Hurricanes are getting an athletic lineman.

"My strengths are my ability to pull and get down the field," said Cunningham. "I feel I move well and pass block well. I am still working hard to get better, but I think coaches like my size and how I can move."

With the scholarship offers and the commitment to Miami, it has brought Cunningham some attention locally. He coaches a youth football team and he is using that pedestal to share his story about hard work and what it takes to get where he is.

He started dreaming about this time when he was just a kid playing backyard football. His time has come, he has those stars by his name and he is committed to a school rich in tradition and it is all happening for him now.

More offers are expected, but as of now, Cunningham is saying all the right things, and he is excited about playing with one of the best in the country down the road in Coral Gables.

"I consider myself a pretty hard commitment to Miami," said Cunningham. "I have felt great about my decision since I committed. I am looking forward to opening holes for Lorenzo Lingard right now."