Cornell Still High On ND
Jashon Cornell was going to visit Notre Dame for the Irish’s spring game last month, but the 2015 Minnesota linebacker/defensive end’s ride fell through and he went to Missouri’s spring game with some teammates instead.
But Irish fans shouldn’t worry too much as the Cretin Derham Hall standout expects to return to South Bend again.
“I’ll probably come down with James (Onwualu) some time,” the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder said of the Irish early enrollee and former Cretin Derham star.
Cornell has seen his offer sheet explode in recent weeks, especially after grabbing offers from Notre Dame and USC on the same day at the start of April. He’s since picked up offers from Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Ohio State, Wisconsin, South Florida, Penn State, Cal, Florida and Missouri, which he added during the visit.
“It feels really good to know all of the schools across the country are seeing me as a top player and showing me a lot of respect right now,” Cornell said.
Cornell isn’t ready to start narrowing things down or release a firm list of favorites.
“It’s confusing,” he acknowledged. “All of my schools are at the same point because I’m doing a lot of research on them all. I’m trying to go through all of the schools that have offered me so far.”
Cornell has been staying in touch with Notre Dame, specifically his area recruiter, Chuck Martin, and potential position coach, Mike Elston.
“It’s kind of both of them,” Cornell said of who’s handling his recruitment for the Irish. “They say to keep doing what I’m doing, stay in my books like I’ve been doing, don’t drop off from academics like some kids do with the hype.”
Notre Dame is likely to be on Cornell’s short list whenever he starts making cuts.
“The things I like about Notre Dame right now are that they know how to win,” he said. “The tradition down there, the history they have, they’re a good school. Coach Brian Kelly came from a D-II school and went to Notre Dame and almost won a national championship, it shows he’s a good coach and knows what he’s doing to make Notre Dame one of the top schools in the country.”
Cornell is expected to work out at today’s Nike Football Training Camp in Chicago.