Two Big Ten teams got the chance to impress Jashon Cornell (Saint Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall), the No. 1 prospect in the 2015 class, this weekend.
Cornell took in a Minnesota basketball game on Friday and then took a trip to Iowa for a junior day.
Cornell is from Minnesota so he is familiar with the Golden Gophers, but being able to see Iowa up close gave him a new perspective.
Jashon Cornell
Jared Shanker/ESPN
DE Jashon Cornell, the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2015, made trips to Minnesota and Iowa this weekend.
“The one thing I saw at Iowa was the players that they’re recruiting. ... They said they want to recruit the best of the best and that they want football players no matter who you are,” he said. “I saw a lot of big guys on the visit, a lot of good linemen [who] have potential. That’s one thing about Iowa; they get their linemen right there.”
There is still a lot of time left before Cornell makes a decision, but getting him on campus is always positive. The ESPN Junior 300 prospect said it helps him to see schools in person because he can actually see what the coaches discuss during their phone calls, and it gives him a better perspective of what the school has to offer.
Another benefit to the trip is he didn’t make it alone, as his cousin also happens to be a football recruit. Brison White (Saint Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall), a 2016 running back, has been getting attention and took in the Iowa junior day with Cornell.
“They were selling the school and motivating us to pick Iowa. We got to see the plans for the new sports complex they’re building that will be three times bigger than the one they have,” White said. “They showed us a 3D video of what it will look like, and it looks beautiful. I’m happy that they’re making the effort for younger guys like me. I think that’s good for them.”
Cornell and White live 10 minutes from each other and have always been close. White likes to tell people that Cornell was the skinniest person he has ever seen growing up, but he recognizes the positives of having a family member going through the process before him.
“I’m going to use Jashon as a lead example with what he does, what he takes out of his recruitment and the successful things he does,” White said. “I’m watching how he handles everything right now, and I can add to that how I want to do it when I’m in his spot.”
