Dunnigan’s versatility lands him commitment at Miami
By Joanna Chadwick
With senior JJ Dunnigan on the football field, there was a common impulse to start videoing – because there was always the expectation that you’d capture a highlight reel.
Dunnigan, a two-way player who signed with Miami, is Shelter Insurance’s VYPE Kansas football player of the year.
“JJ was a phenomenal player for us,” Manhattan coach Joe Schartz said. “He was able to win every matchup for us offensively and defensively. He has elite speed and athleticism.
“His size and strength improved as he progressed through his high school career, allowing us to play him more in the box as an extra run defender. It allowed us to give different looks defensively and pressure and spy opposing quarterbacks.”
Dunnigan helped lead Manhattan to the Class 6A title, beating Olathe Northwest 27-0. Defensively, he had nine tackles. Offensively, he had three catches for 111 yards, including touchdown receptions of 68 and 50 yards – the first right before halftime, the second to open the third quarter.
“His ability as a receiver is impressive, as well,” Schartz said. “He had two big plays in the state championship game that helped us seal the victory.”
Dunnigan also played basketball at Manhattan, but he suffered a foot injury that kept him from playing. He focused on football after that.
As a junior and senior, Dunnigan had a combined 1,010 receiving yards for a 21.5 average per catch, and 14 touchdowns. In that time, he also had 151 tackles, eight for loss, four interceptions and 15 pass breakups. He returned three punts for touchdowns, three kickoffs for touchdowns, and averaged 40 yards per return.
“He had a kick return against Hays in Week 3 that allowed us to win that game, as well as a kick return against Maize after they had taken a 7-0 lead on a pick-6 to start the game,” Schartz said. “His ability as a kick returner is impressive, as well.
“His best play this year was an effort play of tracking down a Derby wide receiver in the sub-state game. He made up 15-20 yards on the Derby player and knocked him out of bounds inside the 10-yard line. A couple of plays later, we intercepted a pass keeping Derby off the scoreboard. Big play.”
Dunnigan, whose father, also named James, played at Kansas State, graduated at semester and enrolled at Miami.
He signed with Miami as the No. 92-ranked player in the country and No. 10 defensive back.
“His game will translate well to the college game because everyone is looking for an athlete that can do multiple jobs,” Schartz said. “He is able to cover wide receivers and tight ends, as well as (being) big enough to be effective in the box as a run defender.”
