Cornell is headed South

Not many players hold press conferences without announcing where and when it's at but that's what happened yesterday for Jonathan Cornell. Cornell, a talented linebacker from La Puente (Calif.) Bishop Amat made his choice for Mississippi Tuesday evening in what became a fairly easy choice for him.

Cornell, 6-2, 210 pounds is one of the top 'backers in the West region. He has tremendous speed and hitting ability and should be a great fit for Coach Orgeron's attacking style of defense.

The Rebels had been in Cornells top five since back in the summer but few thought the athlete would venture so far from home. He had told us several times in the past few months that his top schools were the two in his own background, USC and UCLA but over the past month, things took a turn.

"UCLA stopped recruiting him because of academics," Lancer coach Mike Difiori said. "USC kind of backed off too. He was supposed to take a visit there last weekend but that fell through and Mississippi has been there all along for him.

"That was the only visit he took and he loved it there. He likes the coaches over there and he's excited to play in a conference like the SEC. I think they're getting a great player, no doubt about that. Jonathan can really run and hit and he makes plays all over the field."

In an interview with James Bryant from RebelGrove, Cornell listed several reasons for his decision.

"I loved it at Ole Miss," Cornell told Bryant. "They have the best facilities in the nation, a great coach who is a proven winner, and I get to play in the SEC - one of the best conferences in America. Coach Orgeron is such a great coach and great person. He is the type coach I will love playing for and Coach Nielsen has been super during this entire process. They are two of the main reasons I chose Ole Miss."