Jashon Cornell: 2015 Ohio State football player profiles

Looking to replace a few bodies along the defensive line, Jashon Cornell has a chance to crack the rotation early this upcoming season. Before you get the chance to see him making huge plays in the Scarlet and Gray, let's take a look back at how the Minnesota native became a member of the Buckeyes.

Vitals

Height: 6'4

Weight: 260

247Composite: Seventh strong-side defensive end, top overall player from Minnesota, 91st overall prospect in the 2015 class

High School: Cretin-Derham Hall, Saint Paul, Minnesota

Origin Story

Cornell's path to the Buckeyes started in the spring of 2013, when then assistant coach Mike Vrabel offered the sophomore standout while out on the recruiting trail. Holding scholarship offers from programs such as Minnesota, Iowa, Notre Dame, Florida, Penn State, and USC, before receiving an offer from OSU, Cornell was already labeled a top class of 2015 prospect.

Cornell, still yet to make it to the Ohio State campus, was scheduled to take a trip to Columbus for the Friday Night Lights camp held on July 26, 2013, but ended up visiting Iowa instead that weekend, and never made it to OSU before his season kicked off.

While dominating nearly every offensive lineman put in front of him on Friday evenings for Cretin-Derham Hall as a junior, Jashon would make Saturday game visits on the campuses of Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Notre Dame. On October 26th he was once again suppose to make it to Columbus for Ohio State's game against Penn State, but couldn't make the trip due to a playoff game of his own.

Cornell finished his junior year with 70 total tackles, and 15 sacks. His recruitment really started to blow up after he backed up all the hype on the field.

Heading into the summer with well over 20 scholarship offers under his belt at that time, Ohio State's chances to land Cornell were starting to looking pretty slim. Notre Dame and Big Ten foe Michigan State were looked as the programs with the inside track until Jashon finally made his long awaited visit to the Ohio State campus.

On May 31, 2014, Cornell made it to Columbus to meet with Urban Meyer, Larry Johnson, and the OSU coaching staff. Walking away more than impressed with the staff, program, and school as a whole, the Buckeyes rapidly moved up his list.

Becoming great friends with Cincinnati St. Xavier linebacker Justin Hilliard throughout the recruiting process, the pair decided they would announce their college commitment the same day. With all things pointing towards OSU, on July 2, 2014, just a little over a month after his first trip to Ohio State, Cornell, and Hilliard became the leaders of the Elite '15 after committing to Ohio State during ceremonies at their schools.

Just about a week removed from their commitment, Cornell, and Hilliad turned their attention at trying to lure top prospects to the Buckeyes at The Opening, a camp held at the Nike headquarters in Oregon. With their eyes set on offensive lineman Matthew Burrell, and others, the pair were preaching the Buckeye gospel everywhere they stepped foot.

Over a month later, Cornell would sign his midyear agreement with Ohio State, moving the defensive end one step closer to playing for the Buckeyes on the college level.

During his senior season, Jashon found time to lead the Cretin-Derham Hall defensive line, recruit on social media, and take numerous unofficial visits to campus for nearly every Buckeye football game this past season.

On November 2nd, Cornell graduated from Cretin Derham-Hall, and turned his focus on conditioning for not just Ohio State, but also the Under Armour All-American game. A week before he enrolled into the Ohio State University, he would follow fellow OSU pledge Eric Glover-Williams of Canton McKinley to St. Petersburg, Florida to participate in the annual event against some of the top prospects in the class of 2015.

Now a full fledged member of the Buckeyes, Cornell is ready for the next step of his football career.

2015 Prospectus

With holes left to fill after the graduation of Steve Miller, and Rashad Frazier, Jashon will get every opportunity to make the defensive end rotation for this upcoming season during spring, and fall camp. Just like soon-to-be sophomore Jalyn Holmes last season, don't be shocked to see the big, but nimble Cornell on the field using his pass rushing skills in a back up role, and late game situations as a true freshman before being the mix for a starting job in the years to come.

Obligatory Highlights

Did you know?

Cornell is the first Minnesota native to sign with Ohio State since defensive tackle Willie Mobley in 2008.