Cornell is keeping in close contact with Coach Phelps.
Jashon Cornell, a 6-4 junior defensive end from St. Paul (MN) Cretin Derham Hall, is ranked as the country’s top player in the Class of 2015. GopherHole caught up with Cornell to learn the latest about his recruitment.
Gopher Hole: What is the latest on your recruitment right now? How many offers are you up to right now? Do you still keep track or is hard?
Jashon Cornell: I think it is 26. My latest offer was UCLA.
Gopher Hole: Where you invited to any of All-Star Combines?
Jashon Cornell: I was invited to the Under Armour Game, but I had to work, so I couldn’t compete in it, but I did commit to the Under Armour Game for next year.
Gopher Hole: You are not playing basketball this season, but are doing the video-taping for the team. Do you miss not playing?
Jashon Cornell: Actually, I am coming back next week. I was training for the combine and I decided not to play (basketball), just so I could get ready for that. I didn’t end up going, so I decided to come back.
Gopher Hole: Did you just miss it that much?
Jashon Cornell: I think that they were missing a piece on rebounding and I thought that I was best for the position that they were needing.
Gopher Hole: Did you pick up some things doing the video of the games that are going to help you as a player?
Jashon Cornell: I picked up a lot of things. They need to box out a lot because that is not working out for them because they are not getting enough rebounds with them just jumping at the ball.
Gopher Hole: To be honest, they have a lot of lanky players on the team, but not a lot of muscle, so is that something that you think that you can provide for the team?
Jashon Cornell: Yes. That is what I think that I can provide.
Gopher Hole: When you were working to get ready for the combine, what things were you working as a player?
Jashon Cornell: Over the past summer of seasons, I knew that I was going to compete in the combines, so I gained about 30 pounds, so I am up 260 now, but I am still maintaining my speed at the same time. That is one thing that I am working on, keeping my weight, but still maintaining my speed and agility.
Gopher Hole: How much do you think that is going to help you as a player?
Jashon Cornell: I think that the weight is going to help me a lot because I have to move around with 300-pound linemen. I’m still quick off the line, so I think that it is going to help me perfect my game.
Gopher Hole: Have you thought much about football camps for this summer?
Jashon Cornell: Probably Nike and Under Armour Camp, just see I can get invited to the Ultimate and probably the Rivals Five.
Gopher Hole: Are you mostly going to do national camps and not the individual college camps?
Jashon Cornell: I don’t think that I will do the individual college camps. I think that I will go for unofficial visits.
Gopher Hole: Have you even thought far enough to know when you might decide on a college?
Jashon Cornell: I am thinking this summer, probably. Probably commit to a school this summer, but I am not for sure right now.
Gopher Hole: Is that something you would like to do before your season, so you can focus on your senior year?
Jashon Cornell: It is something that I would like to do before the season. I am working at school to graduate early, so I would be able to go down to my school in January.
Gopher Hole: Is that something that you take pride in, since it is hard for anyone to do that, let alone someone who is playing multiple sports?
Jashon Cornell: Yes.
Gopher Hole: Do you even have a top ten or top five now?
Jashon Cornell: I was up to a Top 15, but it would be pretty hard to name that right now.
Gopher Hole: Do you still like the recruiting process or do you get tired of it at all?
Jashon Cornell: During the football season, I took a break from it just so I could focus on my own team. I think that was best for my team and me. Right now, I am going back to the recruiting process and talking to coaches.
Gopher Hole: What is your favorite part about it?
Jashon Cornell: My favorite part about it, is, I think the visits are my favorite part. The visits are pretty fun.
Gopher Hole: What about least favorite?
Jashon Cornell: Probably calling the coaches. I think that it is really hard to build a relationship with someone that you don’t see all the time.
Gopher Hole: Would that make it a little bit easier once you narrow that list down that way you could talk to the same five or ten coaches?
Jashon Cornell: Yes, it will.
Gopher Hole: What things are you really going to be working on once basketball season is over since it is hard to put on weight, to continue to improve yourself as a player and hopefully have a big senior year?
Jashon Cornell: Footwork and my hands. That is what I want to work on.
Gopher Hole: I know that you are ranked #1 by ESPN. Do you like that and do you hear from a lot of opponents that know your ranking and are focused on trying to shut you down?
Jashon Cornell: Sometimes, it can be a burden, but at other times, it can be a good thing to have, just knowing that you are the number one player in the country. You have that title that you have worked your whole life for.
Gopher Hole: You lose some key seniors at Cretin, but you have a lot of key players coming back. You had a good year last season (7-3), but not to the standards that you typically have. Is that a motivating factor you have an even better season this upcoming year?
Jashon Cornell: Yes. I think that is a really big motivation. I think that this is our year to go all the way.
Gopher Hole: What are you hearing from the home state school?
Jashon Cornell: I am hearing from Coach Phelps. I talk to him almost every two weeks, I think. I am building a good relationship with him. I think that I am going to the Minnesota basketball game soon. I’m not for sure.