Penn State Lands Another 4-Star Defensive Lineman with Commitment from T.A. Cunningham

Penn State football’s 2024 recruiting class picked up a commitment from a four-star defensive lineman for the second time in as many days on Saturday.

T.A. Cunningham, who will play his senior high school season at Miami Central in Florida, announced his pick during an On3 livestream. He made an official visit to Penn State in June and selected the Nittany Lions over Michigan, Miami, Texas A&M and Oklahoma.

“I felt great coming off of [the visit],” Cunningham told On3. “I really wanted to commit on the spot, but I just wanted to run things over with my family, make sure everything was good, and just make sure all the feelings I was feelings were real.”

Cunningham joins Brookline, Massachusetts four-star DL Liam Andrews in committing to the Nittany Lions this weekend. They are the fourth and fifth defensive linemen to commit to Penn State’s current recruiting class, joining De’Andre Cook and edge rushers Mylachi Williams and  Xavier Gilliam, 

A 6-foot-6, 275-pound Georgia native, Cunningham is rated the nation’s No. 234 overall prospect and No. 30 defensive lineman in the 247Sports Composite rankings, as well as the No. 34 player in Florida.

“I see myself as an aggressive player,” Cunningham said. “I can play inside. I can play outside. It really doesn’t matter. I like to chase the ball down. I’m not going to stop running after the play just because it’s on the other side of the field. I’m just going to give it my all.

Cunningham has had a dramatic road to his senior season and college commitment. He played his first two years of high school ball in his home state of George before transferring to Los Alamitos High School in California, citing a hardship.

The California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section initially ruled Cunningham ineligible, saying he did not meet hardship standards, and he missed the first five games of the season. That ruling was later overturned and he went on to record 17 tackles and five QB hurries.

His move to California was precipitated by a promise from marketing company Levels Sports Group that promised his family he would have marketing opportunities, a place to live and transportation, according to court documents reported by ESPN. Those didn’t materialize after Levels Sports Group’s co-founder was arrested, leaving Cunningham homeless, according to an injunction request. The company stopped communicating with Cunningham before eventually agreeing to terminate the marketing contract.

Cunningham and his brother, T.K., announced in April that they would be transferring to Miami Central.

Penn State’s 2024 recruiting class now has 24 commitments and is ranked No. 6 in the nation in the 247Sports Composite. The group includes 10 four-star players, headlined by running back Quinton Martin, the top-ranked prospect in Pennsylvania and a top-50 recruit nationally.