On Thursday, Georgia State offensive lineman Montavious Cunningham announced his decision to transfer to Virginia Tech. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Thankful for all of the opportunity, but this is home. Go Hokies 🦃 #Blessed #HokieNation  @coachbrentdavis @Crook_VT @TylerBowen pic.twitter.com/oMB8cZf7Yv
— MONTAVIOUS CUNNINGHAM (@montavious706) December 14, 2023
A 6-foot-3, 305-pound tackle from Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia, Cunningham spent three seasons with the Panthers and played over a thousand snaps, the majority of which came at right tackle. He started 11 of Georgia State’s 12 regular season games in 2023 and finished with an overall PFF grade of 69.0 with a pass-blocking grade of 73.8.
Cunningham was not highly ranked coming out of high school in the class of 2021, though he was an honorable mention all-state selection for Class 5A and a two-time all-region selection. The Panthers were his lone FBS offer. However, he blossomed as he gained more experience.
After redshirting in 2021, he played 375 snaps in 2022, 79 percent of which came at right tackle. The other chunk came at left tackle. He improved as the season went on and earned an overall offensive PFF grade of 78.6 (and 87.6 in pass-blocking) in a November win over Louisiana Monroe.
As a redshirt sophomore this year, he was a steady piece on an offense that ranked 50th in the run game at 171.6 yards per game, just behind Virginia Tech at 175.4. For comparison, his average grade of 69.0 would’ve been tops on the Hokies’ O-line.
Cunningham joins an offensive line room in Blacksburg entering its second season under Ron Crook. It’s a unit that is slated to return all of its contributors from 2023, including all five starters, though jobs figure to be up for grabs this offseason.
The Georgia native is a welcomed boost to a group that was fairly inexperienced this year and did not have a single player average an offensive grade better than 67.0. He brings some versatility, too, and should be able to help out at guard if needed.
The addition of Cunningham puts the Hokies at 89-90 scholarships for the 2024 season and 18 offensive linemen.
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There is a lot of talent in the Sun Belt. Ali Jennings and Canteen were good gets for Tech. I follow the conference closely, as I am a JMU grad and season ticket holder. I was impressed with the GSU offense this year.
Welcome home Mr Cunningham. You’re gonna love SW VA and being a Hokie!
Clark County has some good talent. He has been well coached. Welcome to Hokie Nation!
Congratulations, Mr. Cunningham, on using hard work to pull yourself up the ladder of your targeted life focus, college football. Continued, even greater, success !!
Welcome to the Hokie family Montavious!
Any relation, David?
Sunbelt likes offense so he should be ready to go.
The fact that his 69 rating places him higher than anyone on our current OL suggests that he isn’t coming here to sit on the bench. Great acquisition!
And with only one other scholarship offensive lineman listed a junior (Holifield), that helps with roster management.
I’m not overly excited at how he rated against lesser competition.
These exact same words were used when Tuten transferred in.
Indeed!!
LMFAO Get a grip!!
Good to get a player at a position of need.