TicketsCINCINNATI - When Korey Cunningham was six years old, he wrote that one of his dreams was to play in the NFL.
Sixteen years later, that note is still on display in his childhood bedroom.
"When I first started playing football, I turned my closet into a locker room," said Cunningham. "I put my shoulder pads and my helmet in there. I don't know what possessed me to do it, but I wrote down my goals and glued them to the wall in my closet. It's still stuck to the wall – my mom found it the other day."
The 6'5", 305 lb. offensive lineman, who started every game at left tackle over the last two seasons at Cincinnati, is one of several former Bearcats who is hoping to hear his name called in next week's NFL Draft. Korey's stock rose at UC's Pro Timing Day last month when he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.88 seconds and posted a 35 ½ inch vertical jump. His 40-yard dash time would have been the second-fastest of any offensive lineman at the NFL Combine and his vertical jump was unsurpassed.
"Starting this process everybody had me as a priority free agent, and now everybody is telling me that I'll be a last day pick between the fifth and seventh round," Korey told me. "That's great to hear but I need to stay humble and keep my head right."
Cunningham arrived at Cincinnati as a 225-pound tight end before moving to the offensive line after his redshirt freshman year.
"If we could have a guy back, we would die to have him back," said head coach Luke Fickell. "He was a tight end when he came in and I think he's still developing as an offensive lineman. I think NFL teams really see that with his length and his size and then they see his speed and athleticism. They realize with his upside and his ceiling that there's still a lot to go."
According to the website Pro Football Focus, Cunningham played the most pass blocking snaps of any tackle in college football last year without allowing a sack (469). Korey earned second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors and an invitation to the NFLPA Collegiate All-Star Bowl, but he was not invited to the NFL Combine.
After his stellar Pro Timing Day, Cunningham has visited the Chargers, Falcons, Colts, Bears, Jaguars, Dolphins, and Cardinals and he took part in the Bengals' workout for local prospects on Tuesday.
"All seven teams that I visited with said they saw the chip that I have on my shoulder," said Cunningham. "They said, 'What happened at your Pro Day? Why did you put up those great numbers?' I told them that I didn't get invited to the Combine and I used that as a chip on my shoulder."
Former Bearcats running back Mike Boone is also getting increased interest from NFL teams after a strong Pro Timing Day performance. Boone ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds and had he participated in the NFL Combine, his 42 inch vertical jump and 11 feet, 7 inch broad jump would have been best among running backs.
"I wanted a little bit lower 40 time," said Boone. "Not to be cocky or anything, but I knew that I would jump well. I've always been able to jump a little bit. But for the most part, I was pretty satisfied with my numbers.
"I had a good pro day and it has put me in a decent position. Teams have been contacting me and my agent and I've been soaking it all up. I've heard sixth or seventh round or free agent, but I'm just happy to be in this position."
After averaging 6.8 yards a carry and rushing for 18 touchdowns in his first two seasons at UC, Boone battled nagging injuries and was not as productive in his final two years.
"Those first two years I had pretty solid seasons and then I fell off a little bit," said Boone. "But that's in the past. I just put my head down and keep working hard."
Boone caught 65 passes out of the backfield in his college career and is hoping NFL teams will see value in his skill set.
"I'm trying to show that I can be useful in ways other than just running the ball," said Boone. "Lining up wide and catching the ball, returning punts, and just making myself useful."
"It's all about matchups in that league and I think they see him as a guy that has some versatility," said Fickell. "He was a wide receiver in high school and I think he is still developing as a football player."
Even if they don't get drafted, Cunningham and Boone are considered locks to be in NFL training camps.
Cunningham's childhood dream is about to come true.
"I was a big, sloppy, slow kid but I wanted to be great," he said. "I was determined and I pushed myself. God-willing I'm getting to live out that dream."
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Sixteen years later, that note is still on display in his childhood bedroom.
"When I first started playing football, I turned my closet into a locker room," said Cunningham. "I put my shoulder pads and my helmet in there. I don't know what possessed me to do it, but I wrote down my goals and glued them to the wall in my closet. It's still stuck to the wall – my mom found it the other day."
The 6'5", 305 lb. offensive lineman, who started every game at left tackle over the last two seasons at Cincinnati, is one of several former Bearcats who is hoping to hear his name called in next week's NFL Draft. Korey's stock rose at UC's Pro Timing Day last month when he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.88 seconds and posted a 35 ½ inch vertical jump. His 40-yard dash time would have been the second-fastest of any offensive lineman at the NFL Combine and his vertical jump was unsurpassed.
"Starting this process everybody had me as a priority free agent, and now everybody is telling me that I'll be a last day pick between the fifth and seventh round," Korey told me. "That's great to hear but I need to stay humble and keep my head right."
Cunningham arrived at Cincinnati as a 225-pound tight end before moving to the offensive line after his redshirt freshman year.
"If we could have a guy back, we would die to have him back," said head coach Luke Fickell. "He was a tight end when he came in and I think he's still developing as an offensive lineman. I think NFL teams really see that with his length and his size and then they see his speed and athleticism. They realize with his upside and his ceiling that there's still a lot to go."
According to the website Pro Football Focus, Cunningham played the most pass blocking snaps of any tackle in college football last year without allowing a sack (469). Korey earned second-team All-American Athletic Conference honors and an invitation to the NFLPA Collegiate All-Star Bowl, but he was not invited to the NFL Combine.
After his stellar Pro Timing Day, Cunningham has visited the Chargers, Falcons, Colts, Bears, Jaguars, Dolphins, and Cardinals and he took part in the Bengals' workout for local prospects on Tuesday.
"All seven teams that I visited with said they saw the chip that I have on my shoulder," said Cunningham. "They said, 'What happened at your Pro Day? Why did you put up those great numbers?' I told them that I didn't get invited to the Combine and I used that as a chip on my shoulder."
Former Bearcats running back Mike Boone is also getting increased interest from NFL teams after a strong Pro Timing Day performance. Boone ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds and had he participated in the NFL Combine, his 42 inch vertical jump and 11 feet, 7 inch broad jump would have been best among running backs.
"I wanted a little bit lower 40 time," said Boone. "Not to be cocky or anything, but I knew that I would jump well. I've always been able to jump a little bit. But for the most part, I was pretty satisfied with my numbers.
"I had a good pro day and it has put me in a decent position. Teams have been contacting me and my agent and I've been soaking it all up. I've heard sixth or seventh round or free agent, but I'm just happy to be in this position."
After averaging 6.8 yards a carry and rushing for 18 touchdowns in his first two seasons at UC, Boone battled nagging injuries and was not as productive in his final two years.
"Those first two years I had pretty solid seasons and then I fell off a little bit," said Boone. "But that's in the past. I just put my head down and keep working hard."
Boone caught 65 passes out of the backfield in his college career and is hoping NFL teams will see value in his skill set.
"I'm trying to show that I can be useful in ways other than just running the ball," said Boone. "Lining up wide and catching the ball, returning punts, and just making myself useful."
"It's all about matchups in that league and I think they see him as a guy that has some versatility," said Fickell. "He was a wide receiver in high school and I think he is still developing as a football player."
Even if they don't get drafted, Cunningham and Boone are considered locks to be in NFL training camps.
Cunningham's childhood dream is about to come true.
"I was a big, sloppy, slow kid but I wanted to be great," he said. "I was determined and I pushed myself. God-willing I'm getting to live out that dream."
I'd love to hear from you at Dan.Hoard@Bengals.nfl.net
If you're on Twitter, you can follow my tweets at http://twitter.com/Dan_Hoard
And I'm on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dan.hoard.1