Vanderbilt’s Zach Cunningham leaps over Auburn line to block FG (video)

Star linebacker Zach Cunningham kept the Vanderbilt Commodores’ hopes of an upset alive with an amazing blocked field goal against the No. 9 Auburn Tigers.

Few plays in football are more exciting than a defender leaping over the line to block a potential field goal attempt. On Saturday, Vanderbilt Commodores linebacker Zach Cunningham provided one of the most impressive blocks in recent memory.

With the Commodores trailing No. 9 Auburn 23-16 with 1:46 left in the fourth quarter, Tigers kicker Daniel Carlson lined up for a 36-yard field goal to seal the victory. Cunningham kept Vanderbilt in the game by timing his jump over Auburn guard Alex Kozan perfectly to block Carlson’s attempt, via Jim Weber of Lost Letterman.

The leaping play has been in the news recently after Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner successfully pulled off the maneuver once and came close a second time on Oct. 23 against Chandler Catanzaro and the Arizona Cardinals.  Unlike with Wagner, there was no controversy in Auburn on Saturday, as Cunningham easily cleared the line without making contact with any member.

Unfortunately, the Commodores were unable to take advantage of Cunningham’s effort on the play to pull off the mammoth upset. Vanderbilt drove down to the Auburn 30 yard line with 36 seconds left before quarterback Kyle Shurmur was intercepted by Joshua Holsey to seal the 23-16 Tigers win.

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Vanderbilt is slowly coming along under third-year head coach Derek Mason with a record of 4-5 so far but does have some talent on the defensive side of the ball. Cunningham might be the Commodores’ best player and has racked up 13.5 tackles for loss this season, which is the top mark among linebackers in the nation. The junior has impressed NFL scouts with his athleticism, and the blocked field goal on Saturday showed exactly why.