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The University of Mississippi Athletics
SPOTLIGHT: Humbly Leading
9/8/2010 | Football
Sept. 8, 2010
By Morgan Adams
Ole Miss Athletics Media Relations Student
College football fields across the country are filled with young athletes striving to become stars. They persevere through grueling practices and nerve wracking games hoping for the chance to play professional football. Many young players fall in love with the lights, fame, and recognition that comes with being a successful college athlete. However, some purely fall in love with the game of football. If the fame was stripped away and all that was left was a football and a field of friends making plays and throwing passes; that would be enough. Ole Miss linebacker Jonathan Cornell illustrates such an athlete.
The Asuza, Calif., native began playing football so he could be with his friends and ended up traveling over 1,800 miles to become part of the Ole Miss program. It was not the hard-hitting reputation of the Southeastern Conference or the prestige of Ole Miss that lured Cornell to Oxford.
His move can be attributed to a man who came before him, played before him and left before him.
"What drew me to Ole Miss initially was the story of Chucky Mullins," Cornell said. "It is very inspiring. The coaches told me that I could be a cornerstone in building something special and turning around the program; that was a challenge I welcomed fully. I knew we could do this."
Indeed, the six-foot linebacker has risen to the challenge, helping lead the Rebels to consecutive nine-win seasons and Cotton Bowl victories, the most recent of which took place in the new Dallas Cowboys football stadium.
During the 2008 season Cornell saw action in all 13 games with 11 starts. He finished the year with 45 tackles, and three sacks. In 2009 Cornell started all 13 games and ranked third on the team in tackles with 79, 41 of them solo tackles.
With the start of the 2010 season underway, Cornell is excited to start piling up more tackles.
"I want us to focus and play physically ruthless. The guys are ready to bite, I can already tell. It's getting choppy out here," he said.
With the prospect of another successful year on the horizon, Cornell will be fulfilling more of a leadership role that naturally comes with being an older and more experienced member of the team.
"I'm kind of a reluctant leader. I'm the youngest of five kids, so it's hard trying to tell somebody else what to do when you've been told what to do your whole life," Cornell said. "It is more than just telling someone what to do though. It is first and foremost about leading by example and encouraging. It is challenging but well worth the experience."
Recently the senior was selected a captain on the team. This is an honor reserved for seniors and voted on by their fellow players.
Before learning of his selection as a captain Cornell talked about the honor.
"To be named a captain on this team, so far away from home would be awesome. It would mean that I made some kind of impression on the people here. To be named a captain would be the best compliment my teammates could ever give me."
Cornell proves that there is more to college football than fame and glory; it is about relationships and doing what you love. He loves football for the same reasons he loves the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Mississippi Blues and playing pool. It's just who he is. Cornell plays with passion and humbly leads the team play after play as a silent assassin.
