Jashon Cornell, a five-star defensive end from Minnesota, took a different route with his recruitment and his all-star game selection than his former teammates.
Cornell hails from Cretin-Derham Hall, which has tradition, history, and has sent plenty of recruits on to the next level. The Under Armour All-American wanted to blaze his own path, which is partially why he chose to play in the Under Armour game.
“At my school it’s a tradition where everybody goes to Notre Dame or Miami and I wanted to start new traditions at my school,” he said. “This was different for me and that’s part of why I’m going to Ohio Sate as well. The Under Armour game is more exciting and it’s out there now.”
Cornell is excited to get to the game, especially after seeing the notable past players, including former No. 1 NFL draft pick Jadeveon Clowney. The ESPN 300 prospect opened up about who he wants to go against in the prestigious game, and a little about himself on and off the field.
Congrats to Jashon Cornell on his #UAALLAMERICA selection. https://t.co/BbnNinWHDs via @vineapp
— RecruitingNation (@ESPNRNFball) September 14, 2014Q&A with Jashon Cornell:
What is one player are you looking forward to competing against?: Lester Cotton. I beat him one time before and then the second time he caught me.
If you could start a team with any other player in your class who would it be?: Byron Cowart. I think me and him at defensive end, he just knows the game really well. He’s a great defensive end.
What was your earliest football memory?: It was actually kindergarten. I was playing with third and fourth graders and I started crying. They told me to grow up and this was big boy ball now. I got hit really hard in the Oklahoma drill. I was little and one guy just smacked me.
Which football player did you idolize or want to be like when you were a kid?: My cousin Terrell Suggs. I think that’s one of the people I look up to because he made it out of Minnesota and became successful. He became one of the bset defensive ends and outside linebackers in the game.
If you could take on any pro player in their sport who would it be?: Lebron James. Just to play against him. I know I’m not going to win, but just for the chance to play against Lebron James.
Why do you wear your number?: I wear 9 now. I wore 16 the past two years, but growing up as a kid, from kindergarten to my freshman year I wore the number 9. My sophomore and junior year there were upperclassmen wearing it, so I couldn’t. But now I brought back the number 9. I already requested it at Ohio State, too. They said no one is going to be wearing it so I might be able to.