Michigan State Football: Top 50 players of all time
25. BJ Cunningham
You would never know that B.J. Cunningham was Michigan State’s all-time receptions and yards leader unless someone had showed you the list. Despite having an overwhelmingly successful four-year career in the green and white, the receiver has done next to nothing at the next level, appearing on practice squads and getting cut from active rosters.
Quite possibly the most quiet, yet dominant, receiver in Michigan State history, Cunningham put up some solid numbers during his time with the Spartans in 2008-11.
Early in the Mark Dantonio era, it was mostly the Javon Ringer show, but once Brian Hoyer, and eventually Kirk Cousins, gained confidence, players like Cunningham thrived along with as the run game.
During his freshman season in 2008, Cunningham put up decent numbers for a first-year player, catching 41 passes for 528 yards. As a sophomore, he took a minor step forward, catching 48 passes for 641 yards and four scores. His junior season saw only his touchdown number significantly rise — to nine.
Cunningham’s senior year solidified him as one of the best in school history, helping the Spartans reach the first-ever Big Ten Championship Game by catching 79 passes for 1,306 yards and 12 scores. MSU lost that game to Wisconsin, but he helped produce one of the most spectacular plays during the game — basically a hook-and-latter from Keith Nichol for a score.
The receiver ranks first all-time in receptions (218) by a wide margin, first all-time in yard (3,086) and second in touchdown receptions (25).
Next: 24. Max Bullough