Jorgensen: Why wasn’t Cornish drafted?

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Something is missing here. Last weekend, Jon Cornish was not drafted by any NFL team.

Not one team thought that Kansas’ single season rushing-record holder and the Big 12 Conference’s leading rusher was worthy of a draft pick.

Cornish’s one drawback during the draft was that he ran a slow 40-yard dash. He ran around 4.6 seconds, and scouts would have liked him to run a 4.4, or even a 4.3. Anyone who saw him during the season would think twice about doubting his speed.

Maybe they didn’t draft him because he doesn’t wear gloves. At this point I’m still looking for any kind of reason why no team would want this guy.

Think about this. Two seasons ago Kansas had arguably the best defense in the country, led by the best linebacking core in all of college football. None of that team, including former All-American Charles Gordon, was drafted.

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Fans should try to stay optimistic, though. There is some quality talent on this team. Junior cornerback Aqib Talib is the most talented player since Charles Gordon to play for Kansas. At his current pace he will likely break the streak by Kansas players not being drafted, but I do have some advice for Talib.

In fact, Kansas has had just six players drafted by an NFL team since 1997. By comparison, Kansas State has had more than 30 players drafted in that same time period.

Why would any great recruit want to play for a school that’s going to spell the end of his career rather than be the launching pad to stardom? A school that could get him drafted is less than two hours away.

Why would anyone want to play for a school that produces fews pros, rarely sells out games, wins no championships and whose biggest thrill is beating a team whose mascot is a giant cat head on some guy wearing a football jersey and tights?

Kansas football is in a rut and it needs out badly.

I’m not a fan of calling for coaches’ heads, especially in the middle of the offseason, but another empty draft doesn’t make Kansas fans feel any better. It feels like Jayhawk fans are willing to give the current coaching staff one more season. If it’s more of the same, it will be time to find coaches who can bring the program some excitement and recruits, which would ultimately lead to a rejuvenated fan base and hopefully wins.

The coaches are likely planning on using you as a receiver next season, which is OK. However, do you remember what happened to Gordon? Had he been able to leave after his sophomore season he would have been drafted in the top three rounds as a cornerback, where he was an All-American. However, in his junior year he was turned almost exclusively into a receiver. He entered the draft after that season.

Do your best to stick to cornerback, but I doubt you’ll have much of a choice. So, if it looks like you’re heading down the Charles Gordon path next season take this advice: Thrive at cornerback as best you can, pack your bags and head to the draft before you’re converted to a receiver and lose all your NFL stock.

It is undeniable that Kansas football is in a funk. The Athletics Department is building a new football facility, but facilities don’t recruit players and win games. The most successful recent season ended with a Fort Worth Bowl victory, which doesn’t sound too glamorous to any possible four- or five-star recruits.

Jorgensen is a Baldwin City senior in journalism.

— Edited by Mark Vierthaler

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