Albert Kunickis III Nominated for the 2024 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award

DALLAS (FWAA) — Northwestern running back Albert Kunickis III is this week’s nominee for the 2024 Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award. Kunickis, a redshirt sophomore running back, was born without a right forearm or hand.

“This was my childhood dream,” Kunickis told CBS News Chicago in 2022. “I always wanted to play a high level of college football, and a bunch of people told me it might have been out of my reach, but I just worked and got here.”

A Lemont, Ill., native, Kunickis was a preferred walk-on who joined the Wildcats’ football team in 2022. He tore the ACL in his right knee that year, sidelining him throughout his first season in Evanston. He appeared in his first career game in 2023 on special teams in a win over UTEP. He made Northwestern’s Big Ten travel roster this season and appeared in two games, receiving his first career carry in an Oct. 11 win at Maryland, rushing for three yards.

Kunickis was named first-team all-state as a high school senior, rushing for 1,393 yards and 22 touchdowns, while also handling kicking duties. He averaged 9.1 yards per carry and added 14 catches for 169 yards and two receiving touchdowns.

The 6-foot-3, 223-pound Kunickis is majoring in mechanical engineering, and he wants to one day make prosthetic devices for athletes who are in similar situations to him.

Northwestern coach David Braun says Kunickis motivates him every day at practice, in the weight room, and on the field.

“My mom’s (Diana) always been there with me,” Kunickis said. “When I started off in preschool, she always motivated me to tie my shoes, climb the monkey bars, zip my jacket. She always pushed me through that. And then my dad (Albert), he always helped me with actual football skills. Me and my dad went to the field every week, every day actually, and worked on those drills. I just adapted over time. Reps on reps on reps, and it just got easier.”