Cunningham makes choice to come back to Hogs for another year

Sam Pittman apparently isn’t recruiting just high school players these days, living up to what he said months ago about wanting several seniors back.

Offensive lineman Myron Cunningham announced Saturday afternoon he’s coming back, similar to what linebacker Grant Morgan announced on Christmas Day.

These past two years have been nothing short of a blessing. I just wanna thank the Hog fans for all the support these past two years but we aren’t done yet. #OneMoreYear #WooPig pic.twitter.com/9SYpVmTqcC

— Myron Cunningham (@CunninghamMyron) December 26, 2020

Part of it is Pittman’s linemen go the NFL. Another part is they are buying into what he’s building at Arkansas.

“If we can keep him another year, we could really up his draft stock even higher,” Pittman said last month. “He’s gotten much bigger and can handle bull rushes better and things of that nature.

“He’s gotten better. If he came back, he’d get a lot better.”

Cunningham probably won’t be the last player and it’s a pretty good bet the coaching staff already knows who’s going to come back for another year and who’s not. The graphics accompanying the Twitter announcements appear to be done by the UA’s graphics team.

He does provide a huge piece to the revolving door that has been the Razorbacks’ offensive line the last few years. Experience is huge and his return may give the Hogs their most experience in the line in a few years.

Arkansas had 19 seniors this past season, three opted out and with two seniors’ announcements they are returning for another year, there could be a steady stream of announcements over the next few days.

Under Pittman, Cunningham bulked up from 290 to 325 pounds this season and drew some preseason attention as a possible NFL Draft prospect, but the reality is he was likely looking at being a third day pick.

Cunningham was one of only two players in the SEC who didn’t miss a single offensive snap this year, as he cemented himself as the Razorbacks’ left tackle.

With this season, plus a spring practice and another season, Cunningham could move up considerably in the draft.