Dawson County High School graduate Chad Cunningham will punt for coach Phillip Fulmer’s University of Tennessee Volunteers this year when they open up with UCLA on Sept. 1 in the Rose Bowl.

Cunningham signed a football scholarship in 2006 after playing four years at Dawson County High School.

The last three years he played for Dawson County football coach Jeff Lee and had a great career kicking and playing quarterback for the Tigers.

In his four years at Dawson County he passed for over 4,000 yards. He was the varsity punter and placekicker for three years.

While in high school, Cunningham was named All-State in 2005 and was twice named All-Area. He averaged 46 and 41 yards per punt, respectively, during his final two seasons at Dawson County. Cunningham also nailed 19-of-24 field goal tries over his last three years.

Cunningham holds the Dawson County High School career record for the longest punt with a kick that traveled 71 yards.

He made 60-of-65 extra point attempts.

He was a four-year starter at quarterback and accounted for better than 40 touchdowns during his career.

Cunningham earned a varsity letter for the Volunteers in 2007. He was also named a scholar athlete. Last year, Cunningham handled kickoffs for Tennessee in five games. His longest kickoff last year was 75 yards.

Not only did he handle kickoffs, but he also punted in one game against Southern Mississippi.

Cunningham had a great day, averaging 40.7 yards per kick with no returns in his first career start.

The Volunteers will be in Athens to face the No. 1-ranked Georgia Bulldogs on Oct. 11.