Randall Cunningham II

{{Short description|American football player, high jumper (born 1996)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2016}}

{{good article}}

{{Infobox NCAA athlete

| color =

| fontcolor =

| name = Randall Cunningham

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| college = USC Trojans

| conference =

| sport = Track and field

| jersey =

| position = High jump

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 6

| weight_lb = 180

| nationality = American

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|1|4}}

| birth_place = Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| highschool = Bishop Gorman High School

| former_school(s)=

| career_highlights = y

| awards =

  • 2013 Gatorade Nevada Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year

| honors =

| records =

| 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

| tournaments =

| tournament_list =

| medal_templates =

{{MedalSport | Men's athletics}}

{{MedalCountry |{{USA}} }}

{{MedalCompetition|Pan American Junior Championships }}

{{MedalGold |2015 Edmonton | High jump}}

{{MedalCountry | 20pxUSC Trojans/Pac-12}}

{{MedalCount|type=By event|total=yes

|NCAA Outdoor Championships|1|0|0

|NCAA Indoor Championships|1|0|0

}}

{{MedalCount|type=By race|total=yes

|outdoor high jump|1|0|0

|indoor high jump|1|0|0

}}

{{MedalCompetition | NCAA Outdoor Championships }}

File:NCAA logo.svg

{{MedalGold|2016 Eugene |high jump}}

{{MedalCompetition | NCAA Indoor Championships }}

File:NCAA logo.svg

{{MedalGold|2018 College Station |high jump}}

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}}

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 {{convert|2.16|m|ftin|1}} and {{convert|7|ft|2|in|m|2}}, 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 {{convert|7|ft|3.25|in|m|2}}. 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.{{cite web |last=Keefer |first=Case |title=Silverado hires Randall Cunningham as offensive coordinator |publisher=Las Vegas Sun |date=December 14, 2009 |url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/dec/14/silverado-hires-cunningham-offensive-coordinator/ |access-date=September 6, 2013}} In August 2011, his father resigned his positions and transferred his son to Bishop Gorman just prior to his sophomore year.{{cite news| url=http://www.nevadapreps.com/boys/football/stories/Cunningham_resigns_as_Silverado_aide_127982358.html | work=Nevada Preps|publisher=Las Vegas Review-Journal | title=Cunningham resigns as Silverado aide | date=August 17, 2011|author=Aird, Tristan}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/story/_/id/9028503/versatile-randall-cunningham-ii-welcomes-pressure|title=My time to shine: Randall Cunningham II relishes the chance to live up to his famous last name|access-date=September 6, 2013|date=March 8, 2013|publisher=ESPN|author=Sherman, Mitch}} By his junior year, his 40-yard dash speed was laser-timed at 4.6 seconds. As a senior, he inherited a team that Solomon had led to four consecutive state championships. 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.sunherald.com/2013/08/03/4846285/mississippi-state-lsu-offers-randall.html|title=Mississippi State, LSU offers Randall Cunningham Jr.|access-date=September 6, 2013|date=August 3, 2013|work=Sun Herald|author=Jones, James}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/10/01/3662119/booker-t-washington-heads-to-las.html|title=Booker T. Washington heads to Las Vegas to square off against Bishop Gorman|access-date=October 6, 2013|date=October 1, 2013|work=Miami Herald|author=Fernandez, Andre C.}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/oct/03/gorman-football-washington-miami/|title=Gorman football ready for showdown against nation's No. 1-ranked team|access-date=October 6, 2013|date=October 3, 2013|work=Las Vegas Sun|author=Brewer, Ray}} By that time, he had added offers from Kansas State and Yale.{{cite web|url=https://insider.espn.com/blog/ncfrecruiting/midlands/post/_/id/14308/big-12-recruiting-mailbag-10|title=Big 12 recruiting mailbag|access-date=November 2, 2013|date=October 4, 2013|publisher=ESPN|author=Wilkerson, William}} In the five previous seasons under head coach Tony Sanchez, Bishop Gorman had gone 60–5 and not lost by more than 14 points. Bishop Gorman entered the game with national rankings of 18 by Rivals.com, 32 by Student Sports.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/recruiting/football/story/_/page/onenationrn131004/tony-sanchez-sets-bar-high-las-vegas-bishop-gorman|title=Sanchez sets bar at Bishop Gorman|access-date=October 6, 2013|date=October 4, 2013|publisher=ESPN|author=Sherman, Mitch}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/10/05/3670795/late-touchdowns-lead-booker-t.html|title=Late touchdowns lead Booker T. Washington past Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas|access-date=October 6, 2013|date=October 5, 2013|work=Miami Herald|author=Fernandez, Andre C.}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/oct/05/booker-t-washington-bishop-gorman/|title=Gorman not satisfied with moral victory of respectable performance against nation's top team|access-date=October 6, 2013|date=October 5, 2013|work=Las Vegas Sun|author=Brewer, Ray}} Subsequently, Cunningham led Gorman through an undefeated Southwest League regular season, marking the seventh consecutive such occurrence for the school.{{cite web|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/nov/08/bishop-gorman-desert-oasis/|title=Gorman completes 7th straight undefeated Southwest League season|access-date=November 16, 2013|date=November 8, 2013|work=Las Vegas Sun|author=Brewer, Ray}} By mid-November, Cunningham stated "I like USC, UCLA, Kansas State, Texas, ASU, and Indiana - and Oregon as well".{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/2013-11-18/sports/44165810_1_father-son-college-recruiters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203235015/http://articles.philly.com/2013-11-18/sports/44165810_1_father-son-college-recruiters|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 3, 2013|title=New Randall on the rise|access-date=November 23, 2013|date=November 18, 2013|publisher=Philly.com|author=Jensen, Mike}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/dec/07/live-blog-high-school-football-championship/|title=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|access-date=December 8, 2013|date=December 7, 2013|work=Las Vegas Sun|author=Brewer, Ray}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/dec/07/one-thumb-gorman-rides-qb-cunningham-fifth-straigh/|title=One for the thumb: Gorman rides QB Cunningham to fifth straight state championship|access-date=December 8, 2013|date=December 7, 2013|work=Las Vegas Sun|author=Brewer, Ray}} 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.

{{College Athlete Recruit Start|40=yes|collapse=no|year=2014}}

{{College Athlete Recruit Entry

| recruit = Randall Cunningham II

| position = QB / WR

| hometown = Las Vegas, Nevada

| highschool = Bishop Gorman (NV)

| feet = 6

| inches = 6

| weight = 180

| 40 = 4.4

| commitdate =

| scout stars = 3

| rivals stars = 3

| espn grade = 77

}}

{{College Athlete Recruit End

| 40 =

| year =

| rivals school =

| scout s =

| espn schoolid =

| scout overall = 134 WR

| rivals overall = No rating (QB, dual-threat)

| espn overall = 25 (QB, dual-threat), 2 (NV)

| access-date = December 17, 2015

| bball =

}}

=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 {{convert|5|ft|8.75|in|m|2}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.athletic.net/trackandfield/MeetResults.aspx?Meet=100028#30032|title=USATF Junior Olympics National T&F Championships - Day 6|access-date=October 11, 2013|date=August 1, 2010|publisher=Athletic.net, LLC.}} As a freshman, he won the May 20, 2011 NIAA AAAA high jump championship with a jump of {{convert|6|ft|7|in|m|2}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/MeetResults.aspx?Meet=117047#2513|title=Nevada State Championships-Unofficial Results|access-date=September 6, 2013|publisher=Athletic.net}} As a sophomore, he sat out of NIAA competition after transferring. His father's best high jump in high school was {{convert|6|ft|9|in|m|2}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.maxpreps.com/news/article.aspx?articleid=bddf21b6-10ac-4c73-aaed-df25507aae20&page=4|title=Reebok Top 25 Most Dynamic Athletes: Randall Cunningham Jr. |access-date=September 7, 2013|date=July 19, 2013|publisher=MaxPreps|author=Stephens, Mitch}} On June 24, 2012, Cunningham established the USATF 15–16 age group Outdoor Track & Field record with a jump of {{convert|2.16|m|ftin|1}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.usatf.org/events/2013/USATFJuniorOlympicTFChampionships/results/F465.asp|title=2013 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships|access-date=September 6, 2013|publisher=USA Track & Field}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/high-school/track-and-xc/california/story/_/id/8150169/2012-region-15-meet|title=2012 Region 15 Meet|access-date=October 11, 2013|date=July 10, 2012|publisher=ESPN}} Cunningham won the August 2012 National AAU Junior Olympic Games high jump with a jump of {{convert|7|ft|2|in|m|2}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.maxpreps.com/blogs/maxwire-national-blog/sjNflGZwA0uWcg0bpVmH4A/randall-cunningham-jr-high-jumps-7-2-.htm|title=Randall Cunningham Jr. high jumps 7-2 |access-date=September 6, 2013|date=August 4, 2012|publisher=MaxPreps|author=Krider, Dave}} He actually won the 15–16 age group with a height of {{convert|6|ft|9|in|m|2}}.{{cite web|url=http://image.aausports.org/sports/athletics/results/2012/jogames/boysjoperformancelist.htm|title=2012 AAU JO Games - 7/28/2012 to 8/4/2012|access-date=September 6, 2013|date=August 4, 2012|publisher=Amateur Athletic Union}} The Junior Olympic age group record of {{convert|7|ft|0|in|m|2}} by Johnnie Bartley had stood since 1986, but Cunningham continued to jump past his winning height to establish a new Junior Olympic record.{{cite web|url=http://image2.aausports.org/sports/athletics/results/2013/jogames/boysjoperformancelist.htm|title=2013 AAU JO Games - 7/27/2013 to 8/3/2013|access-date=September 6, 2013|date=August 3, 2013|publisher=Amateur Athletic Union}} By April 11 of his 2013 junior season, he had already cleared {{convert|7|ft|m|2}}, 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 {{convert|7|ft|3.25|in|m|2}}, which was the best height by a high school high jumper in the nation that year.{{cite web|url=http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2013/05/syracuse_football_recruiting_i_1.html|title=Syracuse football team in pursuit of dual-threat quarterback Randall Cunningham II|access-date=September 6, 2013|date=May 28, 2013|work=Syracuse Post-Standard|author=Cohen, Michael}}{{cite web|url=http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/Division/Event.aspx?DivID=43258&Gender=M&Event=9|title= Season: 2013 Outdoor: Men's High School High Jump|access-date=September 6, 2013|publisher=Athletic.net}} He earned the 2013 Nevada Track & Field Gatorade Player of the Year award.{{cite web|url=http://www.usatodayhss.com/article/nevada-boys-track-field-aoy-randall-cunningham|title=Nevada Boys Track & Field AOY: Randall Cunningham|access-date=September 6, 2013|work=USA Today|date=June 20, 2013}} In the August 2013 AAU Junior Olympics, he was second or third in the 17–18 age group with a height of {{convert|6|ft|10|in|m|2}} or {{convert|7|ft|m|2}}, depending on the source.{{cite web|url=http://parser.dyestat.com/search.jsp?meetID=63358#.UioNqz-wVBE|title=AAU Junior Olympic Championships - (Dyestat Meet Page)|access-date=September 6, 2013|work=Dyestat.com}} On January 3, 2014, he made a verbal commitment to the USC Trojans track team, shunning over 30 football scholarship offers.{{cite web|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2014/jan/03/randall-cunninghamm-ii-focus-track-college-commits/|title=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|access-date=March 30, 2014|date=January 3, 2014|work=Las Vegas Sun|author=Brewer, Ray}} In 2014 at the annual Mt. SAC (Mt. San Antonio College) Relays, he set the American high school season best for boys of {{convert|7|ft|2|in|m|2}} on the same April 12 day his sister Vashti did so for girls with {{convert|6|ft|2|in|m|2}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/local-track-and-field-stars-set-high-standards-mt-sac-relays|title=Local track and field stars set high standards at Mt. SAC Relays|access-date=May 2, 2014|date=April 22, 2014|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|author=Schoen, David}} He was surpassed by Bryant O'Georgia of Arizona by one quarter inch in May.{{cite web|url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/high-school/2014/05/11/o-georgia-sets-high-jump-state-record-captures-title/8963233/|title=Bryant O' Georgia sets high jump state record, captures title|access-date=May 29, 2014|date=May 11, 2014|publisher=AZCentral.com|author=Obert, Richard}} Cunningham placed first in the May 24, 2014 NIAA state championship with a high jump of {{convert|6|ft|11|in|m|2}} and second with a long jump of {{convert|22|ft|8.25|in|m|2}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/MeetResults.aspx?Meet=199898#2518|title=Nevada State Championships Day 2|access-date=May 29, 2014|date=May 24, 2014|publisher=Athletic.net}}

As a freshman at the University of Southern California, Cunningham finished second at the Pac-12 Outdoor Championships with a height of {{convert|2.16|m|ftin}}{{cite web|url=https://static.pac-12.com/sports/trackfield/pdf/2015/15-complete_results.pdf|title=Pac-12 Track and Field Championships - 5/9/2015 to 5/17/2015|access-date=June 28, 2015|date=May 17, 2015|publisher=Pac-12 Conference}} and tied for 8th at the 2015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships ({{convert|2.16|m|ftin}}).{{cite web|url=http://www.rtspt.com/ncaa/d1outdoor15/complete_res.htm|title=NCAA Division I 2015 Outdoor Track & Field Championships|access-date=June 28, 2015|date=June 13, 2015|publisher=}} Two weeks later, he won the U.S. Junior National Championship with a {{T&Fcalc|2.20}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.flashresults.com/2015_Meets/Outdoor/06-25_USATF/073-1_compiled.htm|title=USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships|access-date=June 28, 2015|date=June 26, 2015|publisher=}} His top 8 finish in the NCAAs earned him All-American recognition.{{cite web|url=http://www.ustfccca.org/2015/06/featured/2015-division-i-outdoor-track-field-all-americans-announced|title=2015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field All-Americans Announced|access-date=June 28, 2015|date=June 15, 2015|publisher=U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association|author=Young, Donald}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/c-track/mtt/jamie_nieto_917897.html|title=Jamie Nieto|access-date=July 17, 2015|publisher=CBS Interactive|work=USCTrojans.com}} Later that summer he earned a gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships with a jump of {{T&Fcalc|2.16}}. His sister Vashti also won gold at that same competition.{{cite web|url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/pan-american-junior-champs-2015-aguilar-cunni|title=Aguilar breaks world junior javelin record at Pan American Junior Championships|access-date=August 10, 2015|date=August 3, 2015|author=Robinson, Javier Clavelo|publisher=International Association of Athletics Federations}}

As a sophomore, he was second again at the Pac-12 Outdoor Championship with a height of {{convert|2.18|m|ftin|1}} and won the 2016 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a height of {{convert|2.25|m|ftin|1}}, which is an outdoor personal best.{{cite web|url=http://pac-12.com/article/2016/05/15/oregon-sweeps-pac-12-track-and-field-championships-eighth-time|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517103549/https://pac-12.com/article/2016/05/15/oregon-sweeps-pac-12-track-and-field-championships-eighth-time|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 17, 2016|title=Oregon sweeps Pac-12 Track and Field Championships for the eighth time|publisher=Pac-12|access-date=June 12, 2016|date=May 15, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/c-track/recaps/061016aaa.html|title=Cunningham Wins NCAA High Jump Title|publisher=USC Trojans|access-date=June 12, 2016|date=June 10, 2016}} Cunningham no-heighted at the July 8, 2016 Olympic Trials qualifying round after three unsuccessful attempts at {{convert|2.14|m|ftin|1}}. 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/olympics/randall-cunningham-fails-advance-olympic-trials-high-jump|title=Randall Cunningham fails to advance in Olympic trials high jump|access-date=July 8, 2016|date=July 8, 2016|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|author=Ziegler, Mark}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/c-track/spec-rel/030617aaa.html|title=Cunningham and Blockburger Earn USTFCCCA Regional Awards: Cunningham named Men's Field Athlete of the Year & Blockberger Men's Assistant Coach of the Year|access-date=March 23, 2017|date=March 6, 2017|website=USCTrojans.com}} He placed fourth at the March 11, 2017 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships with a height of {{convert|2.23|m|ftin|1}}, earning him another All-American recognition.{{cite web|url=https://www.ncaa.com/di-mens-and-womens-track-field-championship-results-2017|title=NCAA Division I Indoor Championships|access-date=March 23, 2017|date=March 11, 2017|website=NCAA.com}}

As a senior, Cunningham won the 2018 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships with a USC record height of {{convert|2.29|m|ftin|1}}.{{cite web|url=http://usctrojans.com/news/2018/3/11/track-field-usc-sets-2-world-3-usa-records-at-ncaa-indoor-championships.aspx|title=USC Sets 2 World & 3 USA Records At NCAA Indoor Championships|access-date=April 5, 2018|date=March 10, 2018|website=USCTrojans.com|publisher=University of Southern California}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rtspt.com/ncaa/d1indoor18/d2_men_results.htm|title=NCAA Division 1 2018 Indoor Championship |access-date=April 5, 2018|date=March 10, 2018|website=rtspt.com}}

Personal life

In a highly anticipated birth,{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/1995-12-28/sports/25670914_1_randall-cunningham-eagles-playoff|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104103207/http://articles.philly.com/1995-12-28/sports/25670914_1_randall-cunningham-eagles-playoff|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 4, 2014|title=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?|access-date=January 3, 2014|date=December 28, 1995|publisher=Philly.com|author=Mulligan, Kevin}} Cunningham II was born to Randall Cunningham and Felicity (née De Jager) in Las Vegas on January 4, 1996.{{cite news | title =Cunningham Saga Finally Over: It's a Boy | newspaper =Chicago Sun-Times | date =January 5, 1996 | url =http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4323965.html | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140610205703/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4323965.html | url-status =dead | archive-date =June 10, 2014 | access-date = January 3, 2014 |quote="Cunningham's wife gave birth to the couple's first baby Wednesday night in Las Vegas."|via=HighBeam}}{{cite news | title =Knee Surgery to Keep Faulk Out on Sundayel 637 | newspaper =The Washington Post | date =January 6, 1996 | url =http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-769754.html | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150924200329/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-769754.html | url-status =dead | archive-date =September 24, 2015 | access-date = January 4, 2014|via=HighBeam}} He is well known as the son of 2-time All-American punter and 4-time Pro Bowl quarterback Cunningham. He is also the nephew of College Football Hall of Fame running back Sam Cunningham.{{cite web|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/gorman-siblings-not-burdened-celebrated-name|title=Gorman siblings not burdened by celebrated name|access-date=September 6, 2013|date=April 11, 2013|author=Schoen, David|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal}} In addition, he has two other Cunningham uncles (A.C. and Bruce) who played Division I football. His mother, Felicity, is a native South African who was formerly a professional ballerina with the Dance Theatre of Harlem.{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20105923,00.html|title=Weddings of the Year|access-date=January 3, 2013|date=July 26, 1993|work=People|author=}} His younger sister, Vashti Cunningham, is a World Indoor Champion{{cite web|url=http://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/5681/AT-HJ-W-f----.RS6.pdf |access-date=16 April 2023|website=iaaf.org|title=Results. High Jump Women - Final}} and subsequently signed a professional contract with Nike while still in high school.{{Cite web|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/bishop-gorman-s-vashti-cunningham-turns-pro-signs-nike|title=Bishop Gorman's Vashti Cunningham turns pro, signs with Nike|date=March 21, 2016}} His brother, Christian, died at age 2. Cunningham also competed in the long jump in high school.

As of his junior year in high school, Cunningham intended to compete in both football and track in college, although his father's alma mater, UNLV, did not have a men's track program. Baylor, who made him his first offer, had coined the nickname RC2, a reference to RG3, for him. He aspired to break the national high school record of {{convert|7|ft|5.75|in|m|2}}, and he also aspired to be an Olympic high jumper, but the automatic qualifying jump for the 2012 team was {{T&Fcalc|2.28}}.{{cite web|url=http://thebiglead.com/2013/06/01/randall-cunninghams-son-will-be-an-nfl-quarterback-or-an-olympian-high-jumper/|title=Randall Cunningham's Son Will Be an NFL Quarterback or an Olympian High Jumper. Maybe Both|access-date=September 6, 2013|date=June 1, 2013|work=USA Today|author=McIntyre, Jason}} The qualifying standard for the 2016 Olympics was {{T&Fcalc|2.29}}.

Notes

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