Jashon

Cornell

Via The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, “A four-star recruit out of high school, Cornell was a two-time all-state defensive lineman at the prestigious Cretin-Derham Hall. He was the No. 1-ranked recruit in Minnesota and a top-100 recruit overall, receiving more than 30 scholarship offers and picking Ohio State. He found himself lost on the depth chart most of his time in Columbus until breaking through as a senior starter, earning All-Big Ten honors. Cornell switched between defensive end and three-technique in recent years, but looked much more comfortable inside in 2019, introducing a more advanced rush attack with various club and rip moves. He rushes with lower body stiffness, which causes him to play upright and give blockers a large target, but he has the body control to be slippery and detach. Overall, Cornell turned himself into an NFL prospect in 2019 and while he is still learning how to be more efficient, he has sub-package potential in an aggressive, one-gap scheme.”

In case you weren’t aware, Day 2 means the second-to-third round. Much of the attention has gone to Chase Young -- and for good reason -- but the rest of the Buckeyes’ defensive line has been outstanding. Cornell (6'3/285) has stood out the most, however, with a grade from PFF of 90.9. In the last two weeks he’s picked up nine pressures, and he’s just another player offenses have to be cognizant of in what appears to be a very, very good Buckeyes’ defense.

Rivals ranks Cornell as the No. 6 recruit at his position and the top product out of Minnesota. Last year, freshman Joey Bosa jumped out as a breakout star, and Cornell’s first season in 2015 could be Bosa’s last.

Hilliard (6-foot-2, 230 pounds), from Cincinnati, is the No. 21 ranked overall prospect, while Cornell (6-4, 260), from Saint Paul, Minn., is the consensus No. 37 recruit. Both started Ohio State coach Urban Meyer’s Fourth of July celebration early by committing on Wednesday. While the duo is easy to dream on, one shouldn’t forget that commitments are non-binding.